Misplanning Language Programmes in Iranian Higher Education

Abstract

This article brings to light various organisational and implementational clashes with regards to the conceptualisation of language planning at the national level, and the misplanning of local practices with regards to degree programmes, language journals and conferences in Iranian higher education. This paper also argues that at its current status, language education in relation to English Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Applied Linguistics in Iran, both at national and local levels, suffer from ‘regulatory barriers’. The paper asks for an in-depth language policy and planning (LPP) that would clarify the blurred boundaries between ELT, applied linguistics, and linguistics in Iranian higher education. This paper strongly recommends an urge for reconsideration of language-in-education planning in Iran; a change that would be able to address both theoretical and applied language problems at national and local levels. The attempt should begin with organising a clear and comprehensive language planning strategy with regard to language programmes. This would mean carefully determining the scope and boundaries of the fields ELT, applied linguistics, and linguistics in the higher educational context. The proceeding challenge is fixing the problematic planning of language programmes at the local level, considering journals, conferences, and syllabuses. The findings presented in this work are useful for language policymakers to regulate language-in-education policy and planning.

Keywords

• applied linguistics
• elt
• iran
• language policies
• linguistics
• planning