118 Copyright © Canadian Research & Development Center of Sciences and Cultures ISSN 1923-1555[Print] ISSN 1923-1563[Online] www.cscanada.net www.cscanada.org On the Status of English as a “Lingua Franca”: An EFL Academic Context Survey Forough Rahimi 1,* ; Mohammad Sadegh Bagheri 1 1 Department of Foreign languages, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran * Corresponding author. rahimi.forough@yahoo.com Received 1 August 2011; accepted 14 September 2011 Abstract Recent trends prevalent in the studies about language are stressing the vital role culture, as an inseparable part of language, plays in accumulating so-called international or worldwide prestige. English has become the official language of the business and scientific world (Schütz, 2005). There are a number of elements backing and contributing to this process, directly or indirectly. These elements are mostly of political nature. This study tries to examine and question the present worldview of an EFL academic context regarding the status of English. It is carried out at two interwoven levels. The frst section is devoted to the current status of English as the world’s number one language of science, politics, sports, business and the like. To this end, a brief, but concise historical overview of “English as a lingua franca” or “English as an international language” and the leading scholars viewpoints in this regard, is provided. The next section is an attempt to crystalize the factors that have helped or are helping this language to gain and develop such a worldview. This qualitative study is pursued through triangulated data collection procedures in an EFL academic context. The data required for this study was gathered through observations, semi-structured interviews, field notes, and focus group discussions. The results signifed that English has found its way and position as the world's most recognized lingua franca and this is a policy which is left implicit and untouched in many contexts, such as the Iranian EFL context. Key words: English as a lingua franca; English in academic context; Critical thinking ForoughRahimi, Mohammad SadeghBagheri (2011). On the Status of English as a “Lingua Franca”: An EFL Academic Context Survey. Studies in Literature and Language, 3 (2), 118-122. Available from: URL: http://www.cscanada.net/ index.php/sll/article/view/j.sll.1923156320110302.308 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.sll.1923156320110302.308 INTRODUCTION English as an international language has been a matter of concern for many people in recent decades. Everybody has a reason, or is fnding a reason, to learn it. This simple argument is behind the valorization of English, and its current status in the world. It is consolidating its presence by engaging an increasing number of learners, who are in need of learning the formal aspects of language (grammar, vocabulary, phonology, etc.), proficient teachers (preferably native speakers), getting acquainted with the target culture (because of the generally accepted view that learning a language requires familiarity with the culture), and also materials and publications (which should be developed by native speaker material developers to feed their economic system). All the above mentioned points, which form the basis of the concept of linguistic imperialism, are believed to be the mechanism that supports the spread of English as an international language. English has become the prevalent language of choice in many countries. Its choice has affected the cultural, political, or economic life of these countries in the modern world, and this blunt domination of English as the world's lingua franca is unique in history. Graddol (1997) identifed three types of speakers usingEnglish: those who speak it as a frst language (around 375 million speakers), those who speak it as second or additional language (again, some 375 million speakers), and those who learn it as a foreign language (about 750 million learners). Graddol Studies in Literature and Language Vol. 3, No. 2, 2011, pp. 118-122 DOI:10.3968/j.sll.1923156320110302.308