From the Outside Looking In: English, the Muse’s Language in a Non-English Culture

The first part of this essay discusses the cultural distance and thus the linguistic misunderstanding between a native and non-native speaker of a language. The second part focuses on the perspectives on English initiated by different orientations and needs – scientific, political, or practical – which led to the introduction of BASIC in China. The third section focuses on the study of English as reflective of English culture and, at the same time, serves the purpose of reflective thinking, enabling both the learner and the teacher to reach a mutually beneficial understanding.