This book examines the role of foreign languages and cultures in the Algerian educational system, highlighting how cultural imperialism and supremacy persist through damaging language ideologies and the privileging of colonial languages such as French and English. The authors challenge the claim that the Algerian educational system can be considered ‘neutral’, arguing instead that it was and still is the outcome of a conflict between Arabised and Francophone elites, serving strategic and ideological objectives rather than cultural or pedagogical goals. This book will be relevant to students and scholars of language education, language policy and planning, and the history and politics of the Arab and Muslim world, especially those interested in the influence of Western languages and cultures and the democratisation of educational systems.
Author(s): Salim Bouherar, Abderrezzaq Ghafsi
Edition: 1st ed. 2021
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 225
Preface
Contents
List of Tables
1: Introducing Algerian Historical, Sociolinguistic and Glotto-Political Dynamics
1.1 Rationale and Book Structure
1.2 Algerian Cultures
1.2.1 Algerian Cultures: A Reductionist View
1.2.2 Egocentrism in Culture
1.3 Language Conflict and Symbolic Domination
1.4 A Sketch of the Sociolinguistic, Ethno-Cultural and Glotto-Political Dynamics in Algeria
1.4.1 Arabic
1.4.2 Algerian or Colloquial Arabic (AA)
1.4.3 Tamazight (Berber)
1.4.4 French
1.4.5 English
1.5 The Sociolinguistic Consequences of Arab-Berber, Arab-French and Berber-French Relationships, Influenced by Years of Political and Ethnic Tension
1.5.1 Arab-Berber
1.5.2 Arab-French
1.5.3 Berber-French
References
2: The History of European Imperialism in Algeria
2.1 Imperial Curriculum in Algeria
2.2 Language Imperialism and the War on Islam
2.3 Western Cinema in Algerian Local Public Entertainment
2.4 Cultural Genocide After Burning Algiers’s University Library
References
3: Arabisation as an Act of Linguistic and Cultural Restoration and Language Policy
3.1 An Introduction to Arabisation
3.1.1 Historical Background of Arabisation in Algeria
3.2 Arabisation as a Policy
3.3 Arabisation as an Ideology
3.3.1 Aspects of Legitimacy
3.4 Evaluation of Arabisation Strategy
References
4: Examples of Cultural Representations in Algerian English Textbooks
4.1 An Overview of Culture in Education: Perspectives, Implementations and Legislation
4.1.1 Learners’ Perspectives and Teachers’ Implementations of Culture
4.1.2 The Legislative Cultural Powers in Algeria: Educational Institutions and Ministries
4.2 The Hierarchy of Cultural Concepts in Some Algerian English Textbooks
4.2.1 Getting Through
4.2.2 New Prospects
4.3 Cultural Universalism
4.3.1 Towards a Unitary Model of Culture: Blames and Resistance
References
5: An Appraisal View: Expertise Thoughts and Recommendations on Education and Resisting Imperialism in Algeria
5.1 Methodology
5.2 Thoughts and Indications of Imperialism in Algeria
5.2.1 Remnants of the French Education in Algeria
5.2.2 Do We Still Blame Colonialism?
5.2.3 Arabisation: A Movement of Different Aims and Consequences
5.2.4 A Reaction to the Disseminated French Use
5.2.5 Beyond Linguistic Domination
5.3 Issues and Possible Recommendations
5.3.1 Innuendoes
References
6: Conclusion: A Long Path with No Destination
6.1 Impertinent Attempts at Reform
6.2 The Threads of a Quasi-French Educational System in Algeria
6.3 Horizons for Education in Algeria
6.4 Future Research
References
Appendices
1.1 Appendix A: Abdou Interview
1.1.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.1.0.2 The Politics of Language Teaching and Its Effects on Algerian Education
1.1.0.3 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
1.2 Appendix B: Ali Interview
1.2.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.2.0.2 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
1.3 Appendix C: Houneida Interview
1.3.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.3.0.2 The Politics of Language Teaching and Its Effects on Algerian Education
1.3.0.3 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
1.4 Appendix E: Nouha Interview
1.4.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.4.0.2 The Politics of Language Teaching and Its Effects on Algerian Education
1.4.0.3 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
1.5 Appendix F: Rached Interview
1.6 Appendix G: Sami Interview
1.7 Appendix H: Sarah Interview
1.7.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.7.0.2 The Politics of Language Teaching and Its Effects on Algerian Education
1.7.0.3 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
1.8 Appendix I: Slimane Interview
1.8.0.1 History of Cultural Imperialism in Colonised Algeria
1.8.0.2 The Politics of Language Teaching and Its Effects on Algerian Education
1.8.0.3 Recommendations and Suggestions: Perspectives on Resisting Cultural Imperialism in Algeria
References
Index
