522 "English is like the dollar": hard currency ideology and the status of English in Peru by Mugabonake, Stephanie Elisabeth - (mnake) https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p en-us 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC 2025-10-18 14:56:44 UTC hello@padlet.com Read below the first Paragraph from Nino-Murcia. Do you feel like the pressure of learning English is similar in China- why or why not? mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370709 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370709 Nino-Murcia, 1st Paragraph mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370710 Almost everyone in Peru covets knowledge ofthe English language. In rural as well as in urban Peru, English knowledge is seen as a door to better employment and higher social status for younger generations, as a way to gain prestige and as a sign of "distinction'' (Bourdieu, 1984). English has become a valued linguistic currency, a form of cultural capital (Bourdieu, 1991). But most of all, English is seen as a requirement imposed by globalization and a global market. Learning English has become a component of an "imagined global citizenship,'' one of the many ways of "imagining globalization.''
"Global'' is one of the "most powerful terms in our geographical and social imagination'' (Massey, 1999: 27, 33), and in Peru's.
]]> 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370710 ABSTRACT: This paper presents observations from an agro-pastoral village in the Andes, at the periphery of Lima and from an upper-class shopping area, and discusses attitudes toward the state-driven promotion of English. In these communities, a nearly universal ideology in Peru manifests itself in the belief that "hard currency'' cultural capital in the form of English competence is needed for technological advancement, employment opportunities, national progress and international travel. In education, there are increasing but ineffectual investments in public schools and a mushrooming private school industry. The struggle for linguistic distinction generates a low-level language war, where colonially rooted anxieties about race and class come into conflict with popular aspirations for social mobility. mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370711 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370711 Speech/ Discourse Communities & Cultural Capital mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370712 We learned in English 106 last semester about discourse and speech communities.  Nino-Murcia is indicating that there is a cost to be involved to enter a speech or discourse community.

In order to unlock doors, you need know English / English = Cultural Captital

WHAT IS CULTURAL CAPITAL?
Cultural capital comprises the social assets of a person (education, intellect, style of speech, style of dress, etc.) that promote social mobility in a stratified society. Cultural capital functions as a social relation within an economy of practices (i.e. system of exchange), and includes the accumulated cultural knowledge that confers social status and power; thus cultural capital comprises the material and symbolic goods, without distinction, that society considers rare and worth seeking.

So...
By knowing English, you then own cultural capital- and can then gain access to cultural knowledge that confers social status and power.


]]> 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370712 Read below the second paragraph from Nino-Murcia. What questions does this information generate about the status/ attitudes regarding English in Peru? You can think of a question in regards to comparisons with China, or, a general question to help generate thoughts about what you might read in the rest of the article. mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370713 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370713 Nino-Murcia, 2nd Paragraph mnake1 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370714 Because it is seen as the linguistic currency that makes one a potential actor in the global marketplace, English has acquired special ± perhaps inflated ± standing among forms of cultural capital. "El ingle
Âs es como el do  lar'' ("English is like the dollar") a taxi driver told me in Lima in June, 2001. This analogy, or similar ones, were voiced by other Peruvians when asked how they judge the importance of learning English. Language and currency are equated in a very overt form (Bourdieu, 1991, 1993). Another taxi driver commented, "El ingle Âs en el mundo de hoy es un mal necesario, lo necesitamos sõ
 o sõ Â'' (`English in today's world is a necessary evil, we need it, one way or another'). In the rest of our conversation, he expressed resentment about this particular demand, but he perceived it as
inevitable:  "No que sea lo mejor para nosotros pero no podemos escapar de la urgencia de aprenderlo'' (`Maybe it's not the best thing for us [Peruvians], but we can't escape the urgent need to learn it'). Asked why he felt resentment, the same driver replied "por la amenaza de la americanizacio Ân'' (`because of the threat of Americanization').
]]> 2023-03-29 22:12:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537370714 Mercer https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537628485 in some degree, English language learning is similiar as in Peru. in the exam-oriented education in China, English language skill is highly important, which might determine which college students would enter. secondly, because English dominance in science publication and status in world stage, students are required to learn English , strictly speaking. but for me, i personally don't feel that pressure. it's just because of my preference to English.]]> 2023-03-30 02:20:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537628485 CICI https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537629407 I think so. First of all, English is included in the assessment in our country, which determines which university we can go to. Secondly, people who excel in English are more likely to find a very good job later. But English is not as prevalent as it is in Peru. However, our learning pressure is not very great, because in high school, we learn the relatively elementary part of English, only in the university and later stage, we will learn the difficult part, or to take TOEFL, IELTS and other tests]]> 2023-03-30 02:21:32 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537629407 Terry Terry_How https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537630760 I think it's close, but not the same. I think in China, people get to learn more and more English as a tool to communicate with others to make friends, and bussiness workers or studying articles and essays in English. But I don't think the skill of English will be a symbol of social status in big cities. If some one is showing off the English skills to others, for example mixed talking with Chinese and English, it might even get despise by others.]]> 2023-03-30 02:22:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537630760 Ann https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537630918 I think the pressure of learning English in China is similar. Because all students are required to learn English for better study and employment in the future.]]> 2023-03-30 02:22:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537630918 Neil https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537632673 I think there's probably not that much pressure. Now China has very good educational resources and there is a very good prospect for domestic development. So people may not have the same heavy pressure as the young people in Peru.]]> 2023-03-30 02:23:24 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537632673 Misaki https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537634837 Yes. Because English is a necessary skill, especially for today's young people. English has long been one of our compulsory education courses, widely popular in China. In addition, English has become an ability for many companies to examine in entering the society. Mastering English language is the way to improve their core competitiveness.]]> 2023-03-30 02:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537634837 Vanessa https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635284 I think learning English in China is also very stressful. More and more people are receiving bilingual education from birth. Everyone's English level is very high, not to say that can speak a little English is qualified, on the contrary, the company will compare your English performance, the higher the English ability is more helpful for job hunting.]]> 2023-03-30 02:24:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635284 Sarah https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635757 I think the situation in Peru is similar to China, especially in recent years there has been a boom in learning English. In fact, if people master more than one language in China, their employment opportunities will increase, and they will gradually be in line with international standards. But different from Peru, we are also studying Chinese while learning English, because Chinese and the culture behind it are very deep, and we also want to let more people know about its charm.]]> 2023-03-30 02:25:15 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635757 Leawhere. 15601078293 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635829 I think it's similar with the situation in China. In rural, people who are good at speaking English are also have a good status in society. Similarly, the people who are good at Chinese usually do well in some famous company in China as well, which reflects that there have a indeed needs for the people who are good at speaking and sharing their thoughts. They are also popular in their discourse community too.]]> 2023-03-30 02:25:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635829 Hans https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635908 I think there is a difference in China. Have to admit that English was used to be seen as an important factor of judging one's ability. Also, I'm asked to pass the CET test and language test which made me feel a lot of pressure. But I don't agree that English is akind of currency, my purpose is to use English as a tool to gain my UA degree, and I totally believe I can also lead a good life without English]]> 2023-03-30 02:25:23 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537635908 Baiansy https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537636064 I think that in China, people also have a high degree of recognition for English, because in various industries, we inevitably use English for global business and trade exchanges. The education of English has now almost run through the entire educational career of many Chinese people, so many Chinese students feel some pressure to learn English. However, I believe that this pressure is not as urgent as the Peruvians, as China's international status has been rising this year, and Chinese language has also spread throughout Asia. Therefore, some experts in society have also proposed whether the policy of taking up grades in the college entrance examination for English should be abolished.]]> 2023-03-30 02:25:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537636064 Hidy https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537636534 According to the paragraph, in rural as well as in urban Peru, English knowledge is seen as a door to better employment and higher social status for younger generations. But in China English will be needed only in a small number of jobs. So, I think for most people, learning English in Peru is more stressful.]]> 2023-03-30 02:25:47 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537636534 Kevin https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537637235 I think the pressure to learn English  in china is similar with Peru. Because there are many transnational corporation in China and many Chinese eager to get a job from these company for a higher income. So the high earners and people of high social status have a strong connection with English. ]]> 2023-03-30 02:26:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537637235 Zerina https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537638279 I think the pressure of learning English is similar in China. With the emergence of globalization, English has become an indispensable language in our life. For us, mastering English means a better development prospect. However, we don't have as many opportunities to use English in our life as Peru, so we don't have as much pressure to learn English as Peru.]]> 2023-03-30 02:27:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537638279 Elma https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537639385 I think the pressure of learning English in China is not quite the same as described in this paragraph.   My pressure mainly comes from learning English and completing my academic requirements to improve my own competitiveness.   In fact, this point is relatively the same, but in China, English ability seems to be more inclined to one kind of requirements, we college students are often required to reach a certain level of English, such as passing the CET-4 and CET-6, which seems to be related to the requirements of the school.]]> 2023-03-30 02:27:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537639385 Misty https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537640876 I think the pressure of learning English in China is similar. First of all, in China, learning English well is also believed to help the younger generation obtain better employment and higher social status. So from primary school to college, students have to learn English all the time, and English scores are more important. Secondly, English learning has become a tool for Chinese people to go out into the world and understand the world. It has become a consensus that learning English well can better realize "globalization".]]> 2023-03-30 02:28:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537640876 Jerry https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537641555 I think this is partly similar to China. As China's status in the world becomes higher and higher, its demand for English is also increasing for international communication and cooperation, so more and more people need to learn English. But Chinese is now also a highly used and widespread language, and is gradually becoming a global language. A good grasp of Chinese in China also has the opportunity to obtain good employment and higher social status, the pressure will not be as great as the Peruvian youth.]]> 2023-03-30 02:29:32 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537641555 Ann https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537656449 In the process of requiring students to learn English in China, are people learning it voluntarily or by force?]]> 2023-03-30 02:41:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537656449 Terry Terry_How https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537659012 I wonder is the education in China that can let all of the Chinese students know more or less, but can all speak and understand English, becomes the difference between Chinese and Peru's attitude to English have little differences on social status and attitudes in English.]]> 2023-03-30 02:43:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537659012 Mercer https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537659547 in China English is entitled with the same privilege as in Peru. because of English dominace in world stage both in economic and scientific field, learning English language is a requirement for Chinese. practically speaking, most of Chinese learn English is for college entrance exam. but strictly speaking, according to the fact that some of the Chinese have no intention going abroad or digging in science, then for them learning English might not be an urgency in the long term.]]> 2023-03-30 02:43:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537659547 Misaki https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537660331 In Peru, because of the development of the world, everyone has to learn English. English is very important in their lives.

What is the penetration rate of English in Peru?
]]> 2023-03-30 02:44:22 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537660331 Johnny 329903356 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537660355 Peruvians don't like English but have to learn it. This is the sadness of a once colonized country. I think China is different from Peru, I think China has its own strong culture, even though many people learn English without fear of Americanization. At the same time, many foreigners are learning Chinese.]]> 2023-03-30 02:44:24 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537660355 CICI https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537661000 According to the conversation, we find that the danger of learning English is Americanization, which he thinks is an "unavoidable danger", and I agree with him about English in China. Due to the large proportion of English in the exam, many Chinese children are affected by foreign culture. They know a lot about foreign culture and idioms, but if asked about Chinese traditional culture, they know little or little about it]]> 2023-03-30 02:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537661000 Sarah https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537661801 question:Is English a necessary language to learn?
This situation forces people to study English hard. Just like the Chinese are also trying to learn English, because people know that English is a recognized language of international communication. In the era of globalization, people must learn it well to communicate with people all over the world.


]]> 2023-03-30 02:45:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537661801 Kevin https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663130 In China we do have a concern about that English may weaken the national character of the people but as Chinese is a main language and nowadays Chinese is the most spoken language in the world so Chinese concern of cultural invasion is not as strong as Peruvians' . But some people question the importance of English in Chinese exams, such as college entrance exam.]]> 2023-03-30 02:46:47 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663130 Zerina https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663543 Peruvians are dissatisfied with learning English. They cannot avoid the urgent need to learn English, but they feel threatened by the Americanization of learning English. I think this contradictory phenomenon also exists in China, in order to meet the needs of the global market, we have to master English and have a good job, but at the same time, in the process of learning English, we may be affected by the negative influence from the American culture, which is not good for our body and mind.]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:08 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663543 Hans https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663725 Can I say the English is an invader in the cultural fields? In China we have a word 'wenhuazixin'(translation is culture confidence.), a popular words in recent years, which encourage Chinese new generations to embrace the traditional culture. Actually, China faced or is facing the same problem like perus, more or less, so the government promoted the cultural confidence. English is spreading crazyly in recent years, more like a kind of cultural colonization(the spreading also has advantages, however, if it not be limited, it would became a disater for local culture.)]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537663725 Neil https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664216 I was thinking about the specific ways in which English has affected the lives of Peruvians. Such as life, work, study and so on. That is how does the English or Americanization influence Peruvians in detailed aspects.]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664216 Elma https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664405 The message shows the problems faced by Nino in the process of globalization. They consider the use of English as "necessary evil" and feel the crisis of" Americanization ". This is true not only in Nino, but also in other non-English speaking countries, including China. How to maintain its own identity in the process of globalization is a problem.]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664405 Hidy https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664496 Attitudes: The taxi driver think that “English in today’s world is a necessary evil”, but they need it. So, he felt resentment.
As required by the policy, current Chinese students face the pressure of English test. What is the attitude of Chinese students towards English? Do they hate it because of the test or like it because it will promote their own development in the future?
]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:53 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664496 Leawhere. 15601078293 https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664601 I might read some solutions or some opposite attitudes about the large English using in Peru. The large usage of English may be a situation that can't be changed.]]> 2023-03-30 02:47:57 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537664601 Vanessa https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537668018 What age and status are the people in Peru mastering English? Do they communicate in English outside of work? How has English changed their way of life?]]> 2023-03-30 02:50:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537668018 Misty https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537668769 Nowadays, English is regarded as an important language currency. It is perhaps an exaggeration to say that English has acquired a special place among various cultural forms. One of the realities of English in Peru is that people cannot escape the urgent need to learn it, and some feel resentful.
A question related to China: Based on the current development of English, learning English has become a necessity and a requirement that students must meet. Many Chinese are forced to learn English in order to meet the requirements, rather than voluntarily learning English. As a result, many people will be dissatisfied and the process of learning English is not happy.
]]> 2023-03-30 02:50:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537668769 Baiansy https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537669156 Learning English is very important in Peru, and we can see from the article that this may be due to the threat of Americanization.
What percentage of Peruvians' learning lives are taught in English? Do they only learn English in class? Or is it possible to learn and use English everywhere in life, or is this a forced behavior?]]> 2023-03-30 02:51:08 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537669156 Jerry https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537679697 In Peru, learning English seems inevitable because of globalization.
It is a fact that in China, people also need to learn English in many aspects such as academic research. But as the status of the Chinese language has risen in the world, some Chinese have begun to hold an incorrectly arrogant attitude towards the Chinese language, believing that it is unnecessary to learn English.]]> 2023-03-30 02:59:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mnake1/9aio80051lp60c0p/wish/2537679697