This study takes a postcolonial approach towards second language education ingeneral, and English language teaching as a second/foreign language in particular.It discusses the essences of linguistic imperialism, and goes through the historical,political, ideological, sociocultural, and educational bases of such a discourse.However, it is narrowed down in terms of applied linguistics in TESOL studies. Ittraces the evidence for such a discourse throughout the world, and then turns to thecase of Iran for claiming that Iran, as a postcolonial state has not been unaffected aswell.

Postcolonialism, linguistic imperialism, ELT, Iran, education