Linguistic Imperialism in EFL Teaching: New Role of a Teacher in Educating Generation Z

摘要

In the age of globalization, when all the world is striving for unification, there are special issues that need to be addressed. One of them is the linguistic dominance of European languages (namely English) known as linguistic imperialism which suggests bringing structural and cultural inequalities between languages. Learning a foreign language is closely connected with accepting foreign cultural codes, ideas, practices, and so on making them extremely meaningful to an individual. Here there is a problem of preserving native culture, its values and ideas, which learners have to learn to transfer by means of another language. Learners of the modern English as a foreign language (EFL) are referred to as generation Z and see language skills as a tool necessary to function efficiently in the world. Psychological features of the whole new generation suggest that learners are aware of cultural differences and heritage and are supportive of cultural diversity. In such a case foreign language teachers have to take into account cultural aspects in the educational process and help their learners shape their mindset being protective of their native culture. This brings us to a new function a foreign language teacher acquires, i.e. being a culture preserver. The key is to find the balance in teaching and be sensitive towards the aspects of both native culture of an individual and foreign culture they learn when dealing with another language.