ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF GLOBALIZATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR UKRAINIAN PEOPLE

Abstract

Since English is used for business and international trade in addition to being the official language of many international organizations (such as the UN, WHO, etc.), it has become a lingua franca in the modern world. English language lessons are widely taken and required in many secondary schools globally. English is now taught in many states' schools as a required foreign language, sometimes substituting other languages. Taking into account the rapid spread of the English language, the article examines the main advantages and disadvantages of English being a global language providing an example of Ukrainians living abroad and in their home country. With the help of postcolonial and globalization theories, it is shown that the spread of English is a result of the British Empire and the rise of the United States as a global actor in international relations thereafter. On the contrary, the linguistic human capital theory and theory of cultural capital underline that language proficiency can be a limitation and a getaway in socioeconomic situations. The article is conducted in a qualitative research method, namely online surveys aimed at Ukrainians in Poland, Estonia, Germany, Spain, and Ukraine. The results indicate that English being a global language provokes inequalities between people as well as people abroad are motivated to learn English because of better job opportunities. On the other hand, the number of people motivated to learn English in Ukraine is much higher.