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[uh huh]

Hello,

I have a student, a visiting scholar from Latin America, who is intent on using the term "civil society organizations" without defining it. When I do a search, the phrase seems to show up mostly in relation to the UN and the World Bank.

I would appreciate hearing from other teachers if this is a term you are familiar with, that you hear used regularly.

Thanks!

[spanglish]

Civil society = the space between the government and the people. The institutions that bond us together and help us not kill each other. Bowling leagues, churches, clubs, university alumni groups, the Red Cross, you name it - all civil society organizations. My opinion - we don't tend to hear this term in richer countries because we take these social bonds for granted and don't have the same fundamental violent splits or anarchic order found in many other countries. If you ask, your student from Latin America could likely give you quite a lot of insight on this term.

[EFL Educator]

Civil society seems to be lacking more and more each day....especially due to overwhelming population growth in many cities...thus not enough space for people to live in.

[Mr. Leafy]

[uh huh]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I realized I showed my bias in the phrasing of the question. My concern is that the term would not be commonly understood in the US, where he is studying. I had never heard it, nor had several colleagues, and as I mentioned, searches showed up references outside the US. I don't have a problem with his using the term; I just think it would be good for him define it.

I want to see what other teachers think.

[spiral78]

I agree with you that the meaning of the term is unlikely to be familiar to many in the US, and that it probably needs some clarification. I think it's worth giving a heads-up to the student that s/he may need to clarify, particularly if s/he is using the term in written texts for US readers.

Not implying that there is anything whatsoever wrong with the term; just that I agree it's probably not immediately clear what it is to many native English speakers.

[johnslat]

I learned the term "car park" (which I'd never heard or read before) overseas. The first time a student used it, I thought it was a mistake.

Regards,
John