The English Language Amendment: A Case Study on Language and Politics

English language teaching has always been affected by the political system. This article discusses the English Language Amendment (ELA), a proposed constitutional amendment before Congress which states that English should be made the “official” language of the United States. A brief historical background is provided, followed by a discussion of arguments for and against the ELA. The motives behind the ELA are examined, and an assessment of how the bill affects ESL professionals is outlined. The goals of the article are to alert readers to the dangers of the ELA, to counter arguments made by its supporters, and to urge opposition to the Amendment.