An Introduction |
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Albania is a southeastern country in Europe with a population of 3,057,220 people since 2018. The country borders Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece. Both the Adriatic and the Ionian sea border the west of Albania, making it an ideal destination for tourists seeking a vacation along the Mediterranean coast. About half of Albania’s population is Muslim, with small percentages of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Atheist, and Bektashi religions. Tirana, the country’s capital, has the biggest urban population, while other areas of the country are more rural and mountainous. The spread of English in Albania through media, tourism, and education has increased since its emergence from communist isolation. Albania has never been colonized by the United Kingdom; therefore, it is part of the expanding circle in Kachru's model.
Language Composition
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Ethnic Composition
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Albanian Flag
The Albanian People
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Albania was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the early 15th century and the Albanian population was shaped by its rule. Albanians maintained powerful political and cultural positions within the Ottoman Empire, causing a high population of the country to be Muslim.
Due to the geography and terrain of Albania, about 40 percent of its citizens have occupations in agriculture. Those working in agriculture work to produce mostly wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, olives, grapes, and meat. Due to the push for tourism in Albania, another 40 percent of the work force are involved in the service industry. Only about 20 percent of Albanians in the work force work in the big business industry. From these statistics it is clear that Albanians are learning English for purposes of tourism and travel rather than business.
Today, it is popular for younger Albanian citizens to leave the country and search for jobs in countries close by, most commonly Greece and Italy. Most Albanians have perceptions of America that motivate them to learn English and to leave the country.
Due to the geography and terrain of Albania, about 40 percent of its citizens have occupations in agriculture. Those working in agriculture work to produce mostly wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, olives, grapes, and meat. Due to the push for tourism in Albania, another 40 percent of the work force are involved in the service industry. Only about 20 percent of Albanians in the work force work in the big business industry. From these statistics it is clear that Albanians are learning English for purposes of tourism and travel rather than business.
Today, it is popular for younger Albanian citizens to leave the country and search for jobs in countries close by, most commonly Greece and Italy. Most Albanians have perceptions of America that motivate them to learn English and to leave the country.
Albanian Government & Economy
Albania's government is a Parliamentary Republic, but hasn't always been. During World War II, Albania was occupied by Italy and developed into a communist country until 1990. Albania now has 12 administrative divisions, one being Albania's capital Tirana. The Government is set up similarly to that of the U.S. in that it has three branches: Legislative, Judicial and Executive. Albania's economy is growing, and continues to grow; however, it is worth mentioning that due to Albania's close trading and banking ties to Greece and Italy, it is vulnerable to spill over debt crisis.