The Position of English in the Workplace in Algeria: An Economic-oriented Perspective

Abstract

This paper explores the value of English as a foreign language in the Algerian oil-industry context. The study has as a main objective examining the respective position of English in the presence of Arabic and French in an economic sense. The data was collected using a small-scale self-reported survey inclined mostly towards multiple choice items. The data elicited was then analysed through the tabulation statistical procedure. Therefore, the research design is primarily quantitative. The results show two main findings. First, English is highly valorised in the context of the study and appears to enjoy an appreciated position. Second, French is of minor value in comparison to both English and Arabic. That is surprisingly incompatible with previous research suggesting that the languages of colonial legacy usually gain a prestigious status within past-colonies labour markets. Further, these outcomes have language policy implications. Because English is obviously dominating in the Algerian business setting in question, second/foreign language planners must reconsider their decisions from a more inclusive perspective than a mere academic predilection. Economic reasons also dictate strong indicators for overall language policy and planning.