English in the socioeconomic advancement of Cambodian hotel workers

This paper addresses the concept of developmental world Englishes by exploring the role of English in providing socioeconomic elevation for non‐elite communities in Cambodia. Contemporary Cambodia has seen the rise of English as the language of choice for international communication, resulting in English being viewed as a pathway for various opportunities and socioeconomic advancement. English language research has tended to focus on elite communities and contexts, and little is known outside of these domains. The present study discusses these issues from the perspectives of Cambodian hotel workers. The implications for what needs to be done in terms of English language education for non‐elite communities in Cambodia and other similar contexts are also discussed.