This book documents some of the key functions that English is serving in our rapidly changing world. It explores the use and misuse of English in a wide range of contexts and aims to reveal how the dominance of English is being confronted and counteracted. We explore the language policy challenges for governments and for education systems at all levels and show how changing the roles played by English can lead to greater success in education for a larger proportion of children. More ethical and socially just language policies can improve social cohesion.

The Hydra image from ancient Greek mythology represents a rampaging monster that developed two heads for every head that was chopped off. It is, therefore, appropriate for capturing the diversity of ways and means by which English threatens the vitality and diversity of other languages and cultures in the modern world.

We need to stress that we are not against English. There is nothing intrinsically evil about English or any other language. It is, of course, not the language itself that is responsible for its expansion, but the users of the language, the uses to which it is put and the structural and ideological forces behind it. The expansion of English continues to impact in negative ways on other languages and their cultures. While English opens the doors of privilege and access for some, often the few, the way many countries organise education systems means that the English door is closed for the many. What we are concerned with is attempting to ensure that the harmful consequences of how English is used or taught – its many Hydra heads – are counteracted. Language policy needs to change in more equitable directions. This will generally entail greater respect for languages other than English, and education that builds on the languages and cultures that children know. Research shows that this leads to higher levels of competence in English.