ABSTRACT
Choosing a national language was typically justified by emphasizing the need to build a nation and to promote solidarity between different ethnic groups. Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) went further by making English its only working language, which forced massive investments in English Language Teaching across all of its member countries. This chapter discusses some issues in the future of Southeast Asia English. A common higher education space has emerged in ASEAN through intra-ASEAN mobility. ASEAN countries differ widely in that in some English is considered one of the languages spoken by locals in some countries while in others it is mainly used with foreigners. ASEAN faces the challenge of keeping its promise to maintain ‘respect for the different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples of ASEAN while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity’.
