本文以語言與文化之緊密關聯爲起點，探討當前台灣的英語學習熱潮與全球化及本土化之間的錯綜複雜的關係，並藉出愛德華•薩依德針對中東國家的大學英語學習熱潮所做之批判爲借鏡反思台灣目前的英語課程規畫及考試制度。本文並討論英語散播及在地化所造成的語言變異(language variation)，並嘗試針對當前台灣的英語化潮流建構具批判性及自省的向度。

This paper calls attention to the tight interconnection between language and culture. It discuses Taiwan's English learning zest and its complex relationship with globalization and localization. It takes Edward Said's negative comment on the lack of ”expressive and aesthetic characteristics” as well as the want of “critical or self-conscious dimension” in the English learning praxis at a Middle Eastern national university as a point of departure to reflect on Taiwan's status quo. The paper reviews Taiwan's current English curriculum and examination policies, and it highlights variations of English as natural products of a living language. The paper attempts to rediscover some critical and self-conscious dimensions, which might be helpful in Taiwan's English classrooms.