Basic Assumptions in Teaching English as an International Language

Introduction
The worldwide growing interest in English stresses the need for a new approach to English language teaching. This new orientation is called English as an International Language (EIL). Basic to this approach is the realization of the world's exceptional condition in terms of human relations, made possible by improvements in communication technology. As a result, English as an international language and several other names with relatively similar conceptual frameworks have been proposed as viable substitutes for the old EFL/ESL models. Among the proposed models are English as an International or Intranational Language (EIIL), Smith (1978); English as an International Auxiliary Language (EIAL), Smith (1983); and English as a World Language, (EWL), Nunan (1999/2000). Partly to overcome the inadequacies and imprecision of the previous models and partly to respond to the evolving needs of the learners, who are undoubtedly affected by the process of globalization, EIL opens new ...