Language Policy Shifts in Algeria: Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions at 8 Mai 1945 Guelma University

Abstract

This article examines Algeria’s new language policy aimed at elevating the status of English across society. The shift is reflected in the introduction of English in primary schools alongside French and in plans to expand its use as the main language of instruction in higher education. Central to this strategy is training university professors from various disciplines in English, which forms the core focus of the study. Since strengthening a language is fundamentally a matter of language policy and planning, the article outlines and clarifies these concepts. It also presents data gathered from a questionnaire designed to evaluate the feasibility and quality of replacing French with English in higher education and scientific research. The study stresses that such a transition cannot be undertaken hastily, as it directly influences national language policy, societal structures, and future generations, carrying significant risks and long-term uncertainties.