The play explores themes of language, identity, and cultural assimilation, set in an English-language classroom in Karaj, Iran, in 2008.

[1] The play is centered around four Iranian adults preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is crucial for their ambitions to study or live abroad.

Their teacher, Marjan, who has spent nine years in Manchester, England, enforces a strict English-only rule in class, creating tension and highlighting the personal and cultural conflicts each student faces.

[7] Critics in Chicago praised the Goodman Theatre production of English for its witty and insightful script, as well as its ability to balance humor with serious themes.

[8] The Guthrie Theater's production of English, directed by Hamid Dehghani, received positive reviews for its emotional depth and portrayal of the struggles faced by Iranian immigrants learning a new language.