The spread of English in Morocco

Abstract

Morocco is a multilingual country where the official languages, as indicated in the constitution of 2011, are standard Arabic and Tamazight, while French is the nation's second language, pervading sectors of business, administration, diplomacy and higher education. English and Spanish are used as foreign languages in many contexts for different purposes and tasks (Ennaji, 2009). Unlike French and Spanish, whose presence in the Moroccan linguistic situation is due to colonial policy in the 20th century, English does not ‘have a colonial legacy in Morocco’ (Buckner, 2011: 213). With ‘strong demand for a lingua franca’ brought about by the media, economic incentives and globalization, the presence of English has consequently been furthered in Morocco ‘as a global language’ (Zouhir, 2013: 275).

Neo‐Nationalism and Politicizing TESOL: Nationalist Rhetoric and Decolonial Impulses in English Teaching in Morocco

“…The impact of the ideology of modernity on language attitudes has been discussed as a major factor underpinning the favorable discourses supporting English and TESOL in Morocco in recent years (Chakrani, 2013). Studies investigating language attitudes in Morocco have concluded that French and English have been perceived as high‐prestige languages representing secularism, modernity and status‐bearing significance (Chakrani & Huang, 2014), while Arabic, Moroccan Darija, and different varieties of Amazigh are seen as symbols of local identity, cultural authenticity, and traditions (R'boul, 2020). These findings are consequential in that they may formalize the power imbalances among different languages and how they influence the sociolinguistic situation of Southern spaces.…”

“…To illustrate these complexities, we are focusing on Morocco as a postcolonial context that is becoming more aware of its complex sociolinguistic situation and its challenges for maintaining linguistic and cultural sovereignty. Although multilingualism is celebrated in Morocco, there has been a power struggle between local and foreign languages (R'boul, 2020). In recent years, the re‐emergence of nationalist politics has exacerbated the apparent language policy ambivalence regarding foreign languages in the country.…”

Assessing the Professional Preparedness of English Studies Graduates in Morocco: An Alumni Perspective on the Applied Linguistics Track

“…At the very least, learning English and being bilingual provide you access to more chances, more outlets, and new global employment opportunities (Roshid & Chowdhury, 2013;Pandey & Pandey, 2014;Chaibate et al, 2020). In fact, English has recently taken on a significant role in Moroccan educational initiatives that have included foreign languages in the curriculum, starting from primary school (Loutfi, 2020;Bouziane, 2020;R'boul, 2022). Indeed, a nation's strength in politics, economy, science, and education can influence how dominant a language becomes.…”