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From time to time English teachers contact me and ask if I can write or record something that will motivate their students to work on their English. Here's what I told a group of students from Siberia whose teacher reached out to me.

Languages Mean Opportunities

People often want to know the best language to learn to get ahead in life. Many think that learning English, the international language , is the best option. English is of course an excellent choice, but it's difficult for me to suggest just one language when my successes in life have come from speaking so many more languages than English.

More opportunities than I would otherwise ever have had a chance to experience, have come to me because I know a lot of languages. To me, languages mean opportunities.

I learned French, and that's why I was accepted into the Canadian Diplomatic Service. I learned Japanese, which enabled me to set up my own company selling lumber to Japan. I then went and studied Spanish and other languages and that helped me do business in Europe. It helped me to meet people, increase my range of contacts and create personal connections with people.

That's just on the business side. Over the last 10 years or so, I have learned other languages that have nothing to do with my business, like Russian. I was able to go to St. Petersburg and Moscow and meet and have dinner with people, talk with locals, visit the theater and understand everything. It gives you a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.

English Is the Lingua Franca

Though I have experienced great success and enjoyment from languages other than English, whether we like it or not, English is the most useful language in the world. We may wish that Russian, French or Chinese were the international language, but the real situation is that wherever you go in the world, the common language is English.

This is true even if you live in a country where there is not an English-speaking person for many thousands of kilometres in any direction. Today we live in a very connected world, so that even if you live in an isolated place, it is very easy for you to connect with people, movies, music, culture, or whatever you want via the Internet. You can of course do this in whatever language you are interested in, but English is the most useful, since more people speak it.

I'm not talking about native speakers in the United States, Great Britain or Canada. I'm talking about people who use English as a second language. For these people English is not their own language, but a language to communicate with other people who also use it as a second language. So English is the international means of communication. Even if you live somewhere like Siberia, you can have contact, lots of contact with people from other countries, and in order for that interaction to be meaningful you need to speak English.

Personalize the Learning Process

It isn't enough to want to be fluent in English. In order to actually learn English, you have to like learning English. That doesn't mean that you have to like everything about the culture of English-speaking countries. You don't have to like all American music or all British, Australian, Canadian or American people you meet. You don't have to like them all, but you have to find something you like: music, movies, books, a friend.

You have to find something you like and then devote yourself to cultivating that relationship with the book, person, music or whatever it is and not worry too much about your grammar or speaking correctly. These things don't matter so much. Most people who use English as a second language make mistakes.

The important thing is to be able to communicate, because we live in this interconnected world today. We are sharing this world. All seven billion or so people who live in the world are sharing it at the same time. We are alive at the same time and have the ability to connect with people who are sharing this moment in this enormous history of our planet.

It's Worth It

To connect with other people who live in different countries, to connect with their culture and their way of thinking, is tremendously enriching to your life. It will enable you to be more successful because through your language you will be able to access more opportunities and connections. Not because you get a job as a translator, but because if you are somewhere traveling and find yourself sitting on a plane beside someone who is from Turkey, if you have a common language, you can speak to that person. Most likely that common language will be English.

From that you will meet people who will be helpful to you or will in other ways enrich your life because they will become friends.

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Why English is Important | The Linguist on Language

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From time to time English teachers contact me and ask if I can write or record something that will motivate their students to work on their English. Here's what I told a group of students from Siberia whose teacher reached out to me.

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The importance of learning English cannot be overstated in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world. For the millions of immigrants who travel the world from non-English-speaking countries every year, learning to communicate in English is important to enter and ultimately succeed in mainstream English speaking countries. Working knowledge of the English language can create many opportunities in international markets and regions.
International Language
English is the fourth most widely spoken native language in the world, and in terms of sheer number of speakers, it is the most spoken official language in the world. It is the primary language used in international affairs. The English language has official status even in nations where it is not the primary spoken language. English is indisputably the primary language of global trade and commerce. In many countries, most tourism authorities and other officials in contact with the public speak English to interact and engage with tourists and immigrants.
Digital Age
While progress has been made in language-translation software and allied technologies, the primary language of the ubiquitous and all-influential World Wide Web is English. English is typically the language of latest-version applications and programs and new freeware, shareware, peer-to-peer, social media networks and websites. Software manuals, hardware-installation guides and product fact sheets of popular consumer electronics and entertainment devices usually are available in English first before being made available in other languages.
Higher Learning
In universities and colleges in Great Britain, the Unites States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, which attract the most number of international students, the primary language of instruction is English. Most of the top business schools, medical centers and advanced-study institutes are located in North America and Great Britain, and English is the language used in every activity at these institutions of higher learning. Most peer-to-peer journals and technical periodicals that give international acclaim to scientists, engineers, technologists, and technocrats are printed in English.
Anglo-Saxon Influence
The influence of the United States and Great Britain on political affairs and international relations for the past 100 years has ensured the proliferation and acceptance of English as the primary spoken language in many countries. The widespread acceptance of American pop culture also has contributed to the primacy of the English language. A working knowledge of English is important for diplomats and high-ranking officials in such major countries as Germany, Japan, France, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, and Russia so they can better understand the nuance and craft of global affairs and international diplomacy.
Job Opportunities
Knowing English opens job and employment opportunities in many countries and markets. Multilateral institutions and agencies in the four United Nation cities of New York, Vienna, The Hague and Geneva recruit professionals with multilingual skills but also expect the candidates to have good English-speaking skills. The Commonwealth of Nations, made up of 50-plus countries that were former British colonies or dependencies, also offers numerous employment opportunities to those who understand and communicate in English.

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The importance of learning English cannot be overstated in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world. For the millions of immigrants who travel the world from non-English-speaking countries every year, learning to communicate in English is important to enter and ultimately succeed in mainstream English speaking countries.

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Why English is the most useful language in the world. How English can help you learn, communicate, advance your career.

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There are many, many reasons why learning a new language is a good idea. It allows you to communicate with new people. It helps you to see things from a different perspective, or get a deeper understanding of another culture. It helps you to become a better listener. It even has health benefits, as studies have shown that people who speak two or more languages have more active minds later in life!

Those are all reasons to learn any language - but did you know that there are 6,500 languages still spoken in the world today? With such an enormous number to choose from, why pick English?

It's the Official Language of 53 Countries

400 million people around the world speak English as their first language. Not only that, but English is listed as one of the official languages in more than a quarter of the countries in the world. That's a lot of new people you can communicate with just by improving one language!

It's the Most Widely Spoken Language in the World

What's more, English is the rest of the world's "second language". While Chinese Mandarin and Spanish are the mother tongues of more people overall, most people in the world choose to learn some English after their native language. In fact, one in five people on the planet speak or understand at least a little bit of English.

This makes English one of the most useful languages you can learn. After all, you can't learn all 6,500 languages in the world, but at least you will be able to communicate with people from all different countries using English.

It Can Help You Get a Better Job

Companies are becoming more international, and English is listed as an essential skill for more and more jobs. There are some organisations that now conduct all their business in English, no matter where in the world they are based. If you want the best paid opportunities, learning English is a great idea.

It Makes It Easier to Travel

As I said before, English is the world's second language. This means that learning English makes it much easier to travel anywhere you want. For example, aeroplane announcements, train timetables, emergency information and street signs are often translated into English, particularly in countries that use a different type of alphabet. Plus, even if you don't find other travellers or local people that speak your mother tongue, you are practically guaranteed to find someone who understands some English.

It's the Language of the Media

Most of the content on the internet is written in English. Many of the world's biggest news outlets, including TV, newspapers, magazines and radio, are produced in English. Some of your favourite films, TV shows and pop music are probably English-language. Go to any international film festival in the world and you will see that all films are either in English or have English subtitles.

English is the international language of media and arts and so, if you want to access as much as possible for yourself, without relying on translations, it's the most powerful language you can learn today!
Are you feeling inspired to improve your English skills? Take a look at our range of courses at www.Eurocentres.com

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There are many, many reasons why learning a new language is a good idea. It allows you to communicate with new people. It helps you to see things from a different perspective, or get a deeper understanding of another culture. It helps you to become a better listener.

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I've come to realize that understanding English is important for many people, and I have a few suggestions for learning ESL.

Language is our primary source of communication; it's how we share ideas with others. Some people even say that language is what separates us from animals and makes us human. There are thousands of languages in the world; countries have their own national languages in addition to a variety of local languages spoken and understood by their people in different regions. Some languages are spoken by millions of people and others by only a few thousand.

English is one of the languages known by many, with about 20% of the global population speaking it (that's 1.5 billion people). But did you know that most of those people aren't native speakers? Only about 360 million people speak English as their first language. Given its popularity in everyday communication, academia, business, and entertainment, it's no wonder many are saying it's important for non-native-speakers to hurry up and learn English.

Six Reasons Why English Is Important

1. It's an international common tongue.

2. It's the language of academia.

3. It gives you access to a wealth of written media, online and printed.

4. It comes in handy when traveling.

5. It's essential if you want to work in international business or commerce.

6. It's the language of Hollywood.

1. English Is the International Common Tongue

There are several factors that make the English language essential to communication in our current time. First of all, even for those who don't use English as their primary language, it is a very common second language in various cultures. This means that two people who come from different countries (for example, a Mexican and a Swede) usually use English as a common language to communicate.

I think everyone needs to learn the language in order to get in touch on an international level. Speaking English will help you communicate with people from countries all over the world, not just English-speaking ones. That applies whether you're traveling, doing business, or communicating with others on social media.

Most English speakers aren't native speakers.

It's the first language of about 360 million people, but the total number of people in the world who know English is 4 times that amount (about 1.5 billion people).

How Did English Become So Popular?

English originally developed in England as one of the Indo-European languages, but through the historical efforts of the British Empire, it has become the primary or secondary language of many former British colonies such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and India.

Currently, English is the primary language not only of countries actively touched by British imperialism but also of many business and cultural spheres dominated by those countries. It is the language of Hollywood and of international banking and business. As such, it is useful and even necessary for many to understand the language.

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List of Countries by English-Speaking Population

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2. It's the Language of Academia

English is also essential in the field of education. In many countries, children are taught and encouraged to learn English as a second language. Even in countries where it is not an official language, such as the Netherlands or Sweden, we will find that many syllabi in science and engineering are written in English.

Furthermore, English is generally thought to be the language of higher education. Many of the world's top universities are English-speaking schools. Because English is the dominant language in the sciences and international research, most of the research studies you find in any given scientific field will be written in it as well. At the university level, students in many countries study almost all their subjects in English in order to make the material more accessible to international students.

According to Pew research in 2010, over 90% of secondary school students and 73% of primary school students in Europe were taught English at school.

English as a Medium of Instruction

In fact, English as a medium of instruction (EMI) is an increasingly popular model. Educational institutions may choose to use the English language to teach any given subject, sometimes because it is a commonly spoken language in that geographic region, but also sometimes because the institutions seek to attract a population of students who believe that conducting their studies in English makes them more employable in the world.

There is some contention about whether EMI is beneficial on the whole. While it's true that studying in English can be a highly sought-after and employable skill, some worry that using English in academics can threaten local languages and therefore erase learners' identities. Furthermore, if teachers and students aren't all personally invested in using EMI, the quality of learning can be diminished. Its effectiveness can also suffer if teachers and students aren't actually fluent in the language, as that impacts critical understanding.

3. It's Favored by the Internet and Press

On the internet, the majority of websites use English. Even sites in other languages often give you the option to translate the site. The runner-up language is Russian, which only claims about 6% of websites. So English is the clear winner when it comes to the internet, with over 50% of the content in that language. And the amount of educational content on the internet is probably even more heavily skewed toward English dominance since, as we've already discussed, the modern world of research and academics favors English.

One in five people in the world understand at least a little bit of English.

English Publications Are Everywhere

It's also the primary language of the press: more newspapers and books are written in English than in any other language, and basically no matter where in the world you are, you will find some English books and newspapers available. In fact, because it is so dominant in international communication, you will have access to more information regarding nearly every subject if you can understand this language.

The World of Literature

If you know English, you'll also be able to read many great works of literature in their original versions. Of course, there are also great works of literature originally written in French, Spanish, Sanskrit, Greek, Chinese, and countless other languages. Nonetheless, a good portion of the classic literary canon is made up of works that were first written in English. And translations don't always capture the magic of great writers and poets like William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.

4. English Is Useful for International Travel

Having a good understanding of communicating in English makes it easier to travel around the globe. Because it is the main international common language for foreigners, knowing English makes it easy to get assistance and help in many parts of the world. After all, about one in five people know or understand at least a little bit of English -that's not true of any other one language. You can test this by looking at online travel options; any travel booking site you can find will have English as a booking option. And it's a good language to know for navigating airports and other transportation hubs as well.

Not only is English useful for tourism, but many international conferences, competitions, and celebrations are held in English as well-the Olympics, for example. It comes in handy almost wherever you go, for business or leisure. Even if you're not actively working on improving your overall understanding English, you might find it helpful to memorize a few English phrases before traveling to help you get around.

5. It's Essential for International Business

English skills are likely to help you in any business venture you choose to follow. That's especially true if you're working in the international sector, or if you'd like the option for your career to move from the local to international scale in the future. If you visit certain offices of private companies, governmental organizations, or even math or engineering companies, you will notice the prevalence of English.

Many big companies will hire professional staff only after getting to know whether they have good English or not. It's not uncommon for companies who want to function at an international level to only consider their staff to be well educated if they are fluent English speakers, writers, and readers.

6. It's the Language of Hollywood

Everyone knows that Hollywood is in the United States and that the biggest television and music industries on the planet are based there. According to UNESCO, "a look at the languages used in the top 20 most popular films of 2012 reveals that there is a clear and almost undisputed predominance of the English language."

As I mentioned above, TV and movies are a great way to practice your English once you start learning. What's more, knowing English opens up thousands of movies, television shows, and games for your enjoyment. And if you want to work in the entertainment industry one day, English is even more essential.

I believe that those who are still unaware of the importance of English should start learning it, because it seems like the time is fast approaching when just about everything will be done in English. In some ways, that time is already here.

If you're interested, a good first step is to familiarize yourself by exposure-so go ahead, watch some English movies to get an idea of the language.

Should English Be the World's Official Language?

There are many ways that individuals can benefit from understanding English. The idea of having an international common tongue seems pretty great; it opens paths of communication between more communities than ever, and it seems to level the playing field in some ways-in the globalized world we live in, everyone having the best tools possible sounds like a good thing, right?

Language Is Tied to Cultural Identity

Some would disagree. First of all, language and culture are closely tied. The idea that English is the most important language can erase the importance of cultural identities that are tied to languages other than English. The increasing use of English could also contribute to the decline of less popular languages that are nonetheless fundamental to many people's lives.

Is English the Official Language of the US?

No. The United States has no official language, and it is a melting pot of various cultural and linguistic origins. However, most US states have made English their official language.

English Was Originally Spread Through Imperialism

It's also worth acknowledging the violence that contributed to the dominance of English throughout history. As mentioned, the language was mainly spread through British colonialism. That doesn't mean we should stop using the English language, but some do believe the oppressive aspects of language's history count against it, and that its continued spread is also a continuation of imperialist dominance and erasure.

Computer Translators Are Getting Better

It's possible that the rising quality of computerized translation technologies could make knowing English less necessary when communicating globally. Even though most web pages are in English, many can be translated. Many videos have subtitles available in multiple languages, and an app on your smartphone can help you have a conversation with someone who doesn't share any common language with you.

Resources for Learning ESL

Although many people think that it is very difficult and confusing, English is actually the easiest language in the world to learn because there are so many resources available. As soon as you decide you want to start learning English as a second language (ESL), you'll find there are thousands of resources on the internet and in bookstores.

I'm not just talking about lessons and grammar books. You can supplement traditional learning materials with children's TV shows and books. I suggest watching as much TV as you can, in English with English subtitles, and you will pick up conversational English in no time.

Tips for Improving Your English

Take a class online or in person.

Read books and watch movies in English to expose yourself to the language.

Watch English TV shows or newscasts regularly.

Make a point to learn five new English words every week.

Listen to English songs and learn all the words.

Practice with a mentor, or find a conversation buddy who also wants to learn English.

When reading a book in English, say the words out loud.

Use online dictionaries and translators.

Watch educational YouTube videos that teach English as a second language.

Get an instructional book on ESL to guide your learning process.

Use your phone's voice-to-text function to improve your pronunciation.

Exposing yourself to a new language through listening and reading helps a lot, but it's still extremely important to also practice saying words out loud and conversing with others if you want to improve.

Finding time for English classes or paying for a tutor are some ways to practice face-to-face conversation. And since so many people already want to learn English as a second language, you might be able to find a study partner who wants to practice speaking English with you! That way, you can become more fluent together. Learning a language sounds daunting, but there are many resources out there to help you along the way.

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6 Reasons Why Knowing English Is Important in Today's World

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I've come to realize that understanding English is important for many people, and I have a few suggestions for learning ESL. Language is our primary source of communication; it's how we share ideas with others. Some people even say that language is what separates us from animals and makes us human.