Conclusion
As Smith (1976) argued almost 30 years ago, the fact that English has become an international language suggests that English no longer needs to be linked to the culture of those who speak it as a first language. Rather, the purpose of an international language is to describe one's own culture and concerns to others. The examples in this article demonstrate that, in many countries, the teaching of English is becoming much more closely aligned with the host culture as those countries use local characters, places, and issues as the content for their teaching materials. On the other hand, a closer look at some of these materials demonstrates that, in more subtle ways, English is still being linked to the culture of English-speaking countries. First, in many cases where characters other than local figures are included in teaching
materials, the characters are from Western English-speaking countries. These depictions persist even though, in many instances today, second language speakers of English use EIL to communicate not with native speakers of English but with other second language users of English .By not portraying second language. Speakers of English in dialogue with one another, educators are missing an opportunity to provide learners with models of second language speakers of English communicating effectively with each other. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the use of Western characters in some language teaching materials is illustrating in subtle ways that the use of English necessitates the' acceptance of'
Western values. It would be unfortunate if dialogues such as those noted above left students with that impression. For, as Smith claimed long ago, only when English is used to express and uphold local culture and values will it truly represent an international language.