Flooding English

From the DW:

"Dutch education officials move to stop spread of English, flood of foreign students "

Education officials in the Netherlands have expressed concern about the number of Dutch university courses taught in English. But the country's education minister has warned against becoming too inward-looking.   "We must not let ourselves be scared by stories in which internationalization is something negative which is swamping us," Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven said on Monday. Her comments came amid calls from some of her colleagues to rein in the spread of courses taught in English. Many claimed that the Dutch language is under threat. "I represent an open Dutch society in which we dare to look beyond the borders," van Engelshoven said. International students are attracted to studying the Netherlands by the large number of degree courses taught in English — the largest in continental Europe — and low tuition fees for EEA nationals. While most bachelor's degrees in the Netherlands are taught in Dutch, 74 percent of master's courses are offered in English. About a quarter of students obtaining a master's are foreigners. Critics fear that they will displace Dutch students. The Netherlands' largest lecturers' union, Beter Onderwijs Nederland (BON), warned of the looming "linguicide" of the Dutch language if the trend continues. It is suing the University of Twente and the University of Maastricht for "anglicizing" courses without a valid reason. Two master's degree psychology courses are offered exclusively in English by both universities, something BON says is an "impoverishment" and a "dangerous abandonment" of the Dutch language, according to the Volkskrant. Van Engelshoven said she wants to make sure that university courses are offered in English for the right reasons, such as adding value and providing benefits to the labor market. Dutch is spoken by about 22 million people worldwide. It is the official language of the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname in South America and the Dutch Antilles.

^ English is the only International Language that the world has today. It dominates in every sphere of society on all parts of the globe. Anyone who does not know English is automatically at a disadvantage  - whether they stay within their own country or travel the world. To limit the English language would be to limit your access to the global community. English is not only used by the British, Canadians or Americans around the world but also by foreigners with other foreigners (ie. a German person speaking with a Korean person, etc.) ^ 

http://www.dw.com/en/dutch-education-officials-move-to-stop-spread-of-english-flood-of-foreign-students/a-44073372