Language Ideologies and Native Speakerism in English Language Study Abroad Websites
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10816366 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gareth Humphreys (0000-0002-1666-5993, Sojo University Kumamoto Japan), G W HUMPHREYS (Sojo University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-03 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | TESOL Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0039-8322 • E-ISSN: 1545-7249 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/tesq.70056 |
| OpenAlex | W7118080889 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
Study abroad (SA) English language programmes are now offered in an increasingly globalized market beyond solely Anglophone settings. This shift reflects the demand for English learning opportunities in global settings among speakers of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Websites associated with SA help prospective students evaluate and choose study options, and, given this influence, it is important to understand the SA websites' messaging about English language learning and use. This study examined how language ideologies, that is, beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes around language, are represented and reinforced through promotional narratives of English language learning in SA. A content analysis of 100 websites from language schools and university programmes in diverse international contexts explored this messaging, with particular attention to native speakerism, defined here as the belief that native speakers (of English) represent the ideal language models and teachers. The analysis identified four themes: contradictions between framings of inclusive practices and idealization of native English speakers; globalization of native speakerism; marginalization of multilingual practices in English communication; and marketing English as a pathway to success, but grounded in the authority of standard native English. The findings reveal how global SA marketing can reinforce rather than challenge dominant language ideologies
English language · First language · Globalization · Ideology · Language assessment · Language education · Language industry · Multilingualism · Narrative · Study abroad · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Multilingual Education and Policy · Second Language Learning and Teaching
Native-Speakerism in Japan
Singular and Plural
Global Englishes for Language Teaching
The Cambridge Handbook of Language Policy
Global English and Political Economy
The social imaginary of study abroad
Content analysis and thematic analysis
Teachers as influencers and personal brands on Instagram
Native speaker saviorism
Traditional Study Abroad vs. ELFSA
Translanguaging in the context of mainstream multilingual education
Peer interactions in English as a lingua franca
I came as a visitor, but I stayed
Developing intercultural awareness from short-term study abroad
Documenting L2 input and interaction during study abroad
Navigating intercultural friendships in English as a lingua franca contexts
Multilingual ELF and European identity – contributions from study abroad through the Erasmus programme
White Native English Speakers Needed
Variables Affecting L2 Gains During Study Abroad
Naturalistic inquiry
Translanguaging as a Practical Theory of Language
| Highly cited | No |
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