Studying the Awareness of Iranian University Students about the International Policies for the Spread of English

The English language has been increasingly embraced worldwide as a global means of communication and, apart from the instrumental applications of English as a communicative tool, the sociocultural aspects of (teaching and learning) English has also been increasingly debated. Within these debates, the awareness of language leaerners about the cultural functioning of English is a significant concern. Therefore, this study is an attept to examine the awareness of university students in Tehran about the specific policies of English-speaking countries in this regard. The analysis of the responses of 656 male and female studnets in different fields of study at five major universities in Tehran to a questionnaire, along with interviews with 28 of these studetns, indicates meager awareness on the part of these studetns about the transnational plans for the spread of English as a means of cultural influence. Some aspects of the sociocultural implications of this condition for the language education discourse community and for the wider society are discussed. The analysis of the responses of 656 male and female students in different fields of study at five major universities in Tehran to a questionnaire, along with interviews with 28 of these studetns, indicates meager awareness on the part of these studetns about the transnational plans for the spread of English as a means of cultural influence. Some aspects of the sociocultural implications of this condition for the language education discourse community and for the wider society are discussed.