Rationales for foreign language education in the 21st century

This paper reviews 5 a range of traditional rationales which have underpinned foreign language education in mainstream schooling. Die recent influence of these different rationales in FL education within the UK context is examined, together with what is known about their relative effectiveness in motivating language learners. It is argued that UK discourses have been dominated disproportionately by instrumental rationales, which art, less than appropriate against a global English' background, and have largely failed with UK learners. The potential value of alternative rationales for UK FL education is reassessed, especially in light of 21st century educational preoccupations with globalisation, citizenship and values education.