ABSTRACT
Recent developments in theory and research in intercultural communication and applied linguistics have brought new meaning to the way we conceive of ‘the intercultural’. The term ‘culture’ has also been increasingly challenged and problematised in light of rapid changes and vast migrations taking place in post-modern societies, in which identity has become more fluid and complex. This chapter problematises the goals of ML degrees in a twenty-first century society characterised the advancement of digital communication and the rise of English as a lingua franca, which appear to jeopardise the purpose of language study in HE and elsewhere, in particular in the English-speaking world. The chapter makes reference to the language crisis described in the introduction and recent developments in language policy, pedagogy and theory which argue for a re-defining of the aims and goals of ML as a discipline and foreign language learning more generally. It further summarises the key findings drawn from the doctoral study emphasising on the role of the TL in increasing relevance between the language and content strands of the degree. The chapter further describes the relevance of the study’s findings beyond the context of ML degrees and discusses the implications of the study for theory, future research and practice.
