A questionnaire on attitudes to English as a medium of instruction, and as a means of advancement in Tanzanian society was administered to 207 students in eight secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. Attitudes towards English were far more positive and optimistic than the real position of the language in the schools would warrant. Self-assessed competence in English was also greatly exaggerated. Two inter-group differences were observed. Younger (Form I) students hold more positive attitudes than older (Form IV) students, and females outscore males. The results are explained in terms of Schmied's (1985) distinction between the 'relative' and 'absolute' prestige of English. A conflictual interpretation of Tanzanian triglossia is proposed and its implications for educational planning are discussed.