One problem that I see with the English language becoming so popular and dominating all that is tech, is that residents of the US, do not feel the need to learn a second language. I took 4 years of Spanish in Junior and High school, but I ever kept up with it. Now that I am closing in on my 60th birthday, I feel that my days for learning another language have slipped by. I know why I took Spanish, however, I wish I had taken French, they have much better literature then do the Spanish, with the exception of Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Look at Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo. I would have loved to read their books in the language they were written in.
I also think that our failure to learn a second language is causing us to become somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. We are seen as being arrogant and elitist and because of the over-bearing nature of how our government treats other countries we are being alienated even more.
The purpose of this book is not to discuss politics but to discuss languages, so lets get back on track.
The number of people studying English as a second language keeps rising by the day. In most countries, English is one of the core subjects in the syllabus and children are introduced to the language at an early age. To visualize the functionality of the English language, think about the number of multinationals that use it as the language of business. A large number of universities around the world use English as the language of instruction. Clearly, English is an important language and it is important to understand the why.
Growth of importance for the English language
At its peak, the British Empire dominated about 25% of the surface of the earth. Through colonies and protectorates, the British ruled over many countries that were by then referred to as territories. The English rulers obliged their subjects to speak English at the expense of their native tongues. There were two main reasons for wanting this; easy communication within colonies and control of information propagated in public settings.
Looking back to the era before colonial times, it is quite complicated to trace the origins of the English language. The impact of the language today is huge to the extent that trade, business, and media will be unable to function without this means of communication. Still not convinced of why English is such a prevalent mode of communication? Let us analyze a few key areas of use that explain why English is important today;
1. English for International Communication
Even though English is ranked as the second most frequently spoken global language after Mandarin, 53 countries across the world use it as the official language. Furthermore, 400 million people globally learn and speak English as their first language. According to data from the British Council, an estimated 2 billion people from various regions were studying English in 2020.
Based on these pointers, it is likely that when two people from different countries meet, they will be able to communicate by virtue of both of them knowing English. It opens up the world to everyone who understands it and makes them communicate effectively as global citizens.
This also applies to those who work in international organizations. Writing good English is the key to effective communication – you save time on correspondence and it achieves its objective.
2. English for Internet use and Entertainment
Even though there is a growing trend of creating media content in native languages, many productions still incorporate subtitles in English. Unless translated for specific audiences, movies, TV shows, music, and books made in English do not rely on subtitles and translations to reach their viewers. It is also a great idea for learners of English to watch movies in the language so as to improve their listening and speaking skills.
Google, the largest search engine platform on the internet today was initially developed in English and this means that tons of content are still in the language. You must have noticed that when you search for something on the internet, web results availed to you are location-specific (in a national language other than English). This improves understanding, especially for those who are not able to read English. The truth of the matter is that, even with such initiatives, out of the 565 million who use internet resources daily, 52% of the content they come across will be in English. Therefore, if for nothing else, people should endeavor to learn English because it aids their accessibility to information that is unlikely to exist in any other language. Whether for work or leisure, understanding English enables people to exchange information with their online connections as well as acquire world-class knowledge.
3. English for Travel
One of the first phrases mastered when learning a new language can be readily translated to, “Do you speak English?” It is generally assumed that people who work in guest relations, hospitality, trade, and entertainment businesses around the world have a basic understanding of English. Even if someone does not know how to speak the language, the question automatically communicates your needs and they might still be able to help you.
Indeed, many countries, even those that do not use the regular alphabet, have made it easier for foreigners to visit and reside there by incorporating English into daily life. Train timetables, street signs, emergency information, hospital banners, and airport announcements are made available in English in more than 53 countries in the world.
4. English for Education
Believe it or not, there are subjects such as engineering and science that must only be taught in English. Some Universities offer courses in their country’s national language but this is limiting when it comes to collaborating with other institutions in matters of research and innovation. This explains why elementary schoolchildren in many countries are introduced to English. Did you know that Sweden and the Netherlands teach STEM subjects in English?
Well, it is the dominant language for writing scientific papers because it blends easily with English-based quantitative analysis methods. If you take higher studies in English, you expose yourself to the endless possibilities of acquiring knowledge from a diverse knowledge field and also avails your publications to scrutiny from a large pool of experts who understand the language.
5. English for Improved Cognitive Ability
If you want to enhance your cognitive and analytical abilities, consider learning a new language. It can be difficult at first and will involve a quite intensive brain power to master but it is keeping your mind thinking beyond the usual that makes you better.
A study conducted in 2012 by Swiss researchers revealed that there is a significant change in brain structure for anyone trying to learn a new language. These changes impact sections of the brain that are responsible for conscious thought, memory, and creativity. The same research reveals that being bilingual will at the very least maintain brain function into old age by supporting memory and concentration.
Why is English important today? At an individual level, mastery of the English language increases self-confidence and improves personality. All this means that if you embark on the path of learning English as an additional language, you unlock the potential for your brain to function on a whole new dynamic (Not forgetting improved chances of passing language standardization tests like TOEFL).
Different types of English
In countries where English is spoken as the first language, there will be language rules, pronunciation, and accents unique to that specific location. This explains why Canadian English, Australian English, American English, and British English all sound different. At first, it might appear that they are different languages but that is not the case; they are different dialects of the same language.
Dialect refers to how people of a certain geographical region interact with their native language. In Britain for instance, the place where people go to watch a film is called a cinema but the American English word for it is a theatre. These differences are also present in the spelling rules; the Americans write “Labor” while the Britons will spell it as “Labour.”
When learning English, it is important to observe location-specific language rules because they will come in handy in communication. Luckily, most word processing applications will prompt the user to choose their preferred dialect and this ensures that the written form is accurate all the time.
English Verbs and Tenses
As far as English language rules are concerned, learners need to understand tenses and verbs for effective communication. A verb is a doing word that in syntax is used to refer to a state of being. Here are some types of verbs and examples for better understanding;
- Action Verbs – these are used to describe a physical or mental activity taking place at any time. Examples include; think, believe, stand, smile, listen, yump, and dance.
- Transitive Verbs – these are action verbs that have a direct effect on someone else. When writing a sentence using a transitive verb, something or someone is related directly to the verb. Examples include; maintain, tolerate, respect, and love.
- Intransitive Verbs – these types of verbs are often used when expressing doable activities. The difference between them and transitive verbs is that there is no direct effect on something else in this case. Examples include; run, play, cough, laugh, and walk.
- Auxiliary Verbs – another name for auxiliary verbs is helping verbs. They are used in the same sentence with a main verb to form a question, turn the sentence negative or show the tense. Examples include; do, can, could, may, should, and would.
- Stative Verbs – these are easy to identify since they are used to express state instead of action. These states are often temporary and often relate to relationships, senses, emotions, and anything else that can be classified as a state of mind. Examples include; want, disagree, doubt, and like.
- Modal Verbs – this is a form of auxiliary verb that expresses possibilities, obligations, permissions, and abilities. Examples include; must, should, and can.
- Phrasal Verbs – these are word combinations that are collectively used to express a meaning that is not that of the main verb. Examples include; Bring up, Look forward to, Point out, Hang in, Run out;
- Irregular Verbs – these are action words that do not follow the regular spelling patterns convention used for past simple and past participle. Examples include; eat, think, buy, bear, drive, pay and redo.
English Verb Tenses
When using verbs to construct sentences, it is important to consider the three major tenses to use; past, present, and future. You use past when an action has already taken place, present when the action of interest is happening and future for actions that have not yet happened but will happen in the future. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the tenses with examples;
- Simple present: I read nearly every day
- Simple past: I read an entire novel yesterday
- Simple future: I will read a book per week for the rest of the year
- Present continuous: I am reading the bible at the moment
- Past continuous: I was reading Shakespeare last weekend
- Future continuous: I will be reading Mark Twain next month
- Present perfect: I have read 2 books this month
- Past perfect: I had read more than 20 books in my first year of high school.
- Future perfect: I will have read 50 books by the end of this year.
Core English Language Skills
From what we have discussed so far, learning English can be both time-consuming and challenging but the opening of new opportunities afterward makes it worthwhile. To significantly improve your English learning skills, pay attention to the following areas;
- Listening Skills – at the point of listening, the brain tries to make a mental image of the scene that will remain as a memory to keep referring to.
- Speaking Skills – speaking allows a learner to practice pronunciation and mistakes commonly occurring in speech can be easily corrected.
- Reading Skills – Reading text in a foreign language is an effective tool for proving vocabulary and sharpening concentration because it often involves using words in context.
- Writing Skills – writing allows language learners to practice spelling and punctuation as well as develop the confidence to take a course taught in the language.
If you master these four skills as a learner of English, your ability to express yourself in the language improves with time. There is no shame in taking extra classes or help with English assignments to achieve your goals faster. The internet has plenty of resources to accelerate your learning journey effectively and affordably.
1. English for International Communication
Even though English is ranked as the second most frequently spoken global language after Mandarin, 53 countries across the world use it as the official language. Furthermore, 400 million people globally learn and speak English as their first language. According to data from the British Council, an estimated 2 billion people from various regions were studying English in 2020.
Based on these pointers, it is likely that when two people from different countries meet, they will be able to communicate by virtue of both of them knowing English. It opens up the world to everyone who understands it and makes them communicate effectively as global citizens.
This also applies to those who work in international organizations. Writing good English is the key to effective communication – you save time on correspondence and it achieves its objective.
2. English for Internet use and Entertainment
Even though there is a growing trend of creating media content in native languages, many productions still incorporate subtitles in English. Unless translated for specific audiences, movies, TV shows, music, and books made in English do not rely on subtitles and translations to reach their viewers. It is also a great idea for learners of English to watch movies in the language so as to improve their listening and speaking skills.
Google, the largest search engine platform on the internet today was initially developed in English and this means that tons of content are still in the language. You must have noticed that when you search for something on the internet, web results availed to you are location-specific (in a national language other than English). This improves understanding, especially for those who are not able to read English. The truth of the matter is that, even with such initiatives, out of the 565 million who use internet resources daily, 52% of the content they come across will be in English. Therefore, if for nothing else, people should endeavor to learn English because it aids their accessibility to information that is unlikely to exist in any other language. Whether for work or leisure, understanding English enables people to exchange information with their online connections as well as acquire world-class knowledge.
3. English for Travel
One of the first phrases mastered when learning a new language can be readily translated to, “Do you speak English?” It is generally assumed that people who work in guest relations, hospitality, trade, and entertainment businesses around the world have a basic understanding of English. Even if someone does not know how to speak the language, the question automatically communicates your needs and they might still be able to help you.
Indeed, many countries, even those that do not use the regular alphabet, have made it easier for foreigners to visit and reside there by incorporating English into daily life. Train timetables, street signs, emergency information, hospital banners, and airport announcements are made available in English in more than 53 countries in the world.
4. English for Education
Believe it or not, there are subjects such as engineering and science that must only be taught in English. Some Universities offer courses in their country’s national language but this is limiting when it comes to collaborating with other institutions in matters of research and innovation. This explains why elementary schoolchildren in many countries are introduced to English. Did you know that Sweden and the Netherlands teach STEM subjects in English?
Well, it is the dominant language for writing scientific papers because it blends easily with English-based quantitative analysis methods. If you take higher studies in English, you expose yourself to the endless possibilities of acquiring knowledge from a diverse knowledge field and also avails your publications to scrutiny from a large pool of experts who understand the language.
5. English for Improved Cognitive Ability
If you want to enhance your cognitive and analytical abilities, consider learning a new language. It can be difficult at first and will involve a quite intensive brain power to master but it is keeping your mind thinking beyond the usual that makes you better.
A study conducted in 2012 by Swiss researchers revealed that there is a significant change in brain structure for anyone trying to learn a new language. These changes impact sections of the brain that are responsible for conscious thought, memory, and creativity. The same research reveals that being bilingual will at the very least maintain brain function into old age by supporting memory and concentration.
Why is English important today? At an individual level, mastery of the English language increases self-confidence and improves personality. All this means that if you embark on the path of learning English as an additional language, you unlock the potential for your brain to function on a whole new dynamic (Not forgetting improved chances of passing language standardization tests like TOEFL).
Different types of English
In countries where English is spoken as the first language, there will be language rules, pronunciation, and accents unique to that specific location. This explains why Canadian English, Australian English, American English, and British English all sound different. At first, it might appear that they are different languages but that is not the case; they are different dialects of the same language.
Dialect refers to how people of a certain geographical region interact with their native language. In Britain for instance, the place where people go to watch a film is called a cinema but the American English word for it is a theatre. These differences are also present in the spelling rules; the Americans write “Labor” while the Britons will spell it as “Labour.”
When learning English, it is important to observe location-specific language rules because they will come in handy in communication. Luckily, most word processing applications will prompt the user to choose their preferred dialect and this ensures that the written form is accurate all the time.
English Verbs and Tenses
As far as English language rules are concerned, learners need to understand tenses and verbs for effective communication. A verb is a doing word that in syntax is used to refer to a state of being. Here are some types of verbs and examples for better understanding;
- Action Verbs – these are used to describe a physical or mental activity taking place at any time. Examples include; think, believe, stand, smile, listen, yump, and dance.
- Transitive Verbs – these are action verbs that have a direct effect on someone else. When writing a sentence using a transitive verb, something or someone is related directly to the verb. Examples include; maintain, tolerate, respect, and love.
- Intransitive Verbs – these types of verbs are often used when expressing doable activities. The difference between them and transitive verbs is that there is no direct effect on something else in this case. Examples include; run, play, cough, laugh, and walk.
- Auxiliary Verbs – another name for auxiliary verbs is helping verbs. They are used in the same sentence with a main verb to form a question, turn the sentence negative or show the tense. Examples include; do, can, could, may, should, and would.
- Stative Verbs – these are easy to identify since they are used to express state instead of action. These states are often temporary and often relate to relationships, senses, emotions, and anything else that can be classified as a state of mind. Examples include; want, disagree, doubt, and like.
- Modal Verbs – this is a form of auxiliary verb that expresses possibilities, obligations, permissions, and abilities. Examples include; must, should, and can.
- Phrasal Verbs – these are word combinations that are collectively used to express a meaning that is not that of the main verb. Examples include; Bring up, Look forward to, Point out, Hang in, Run out;
- Irregular Verbs – these are action words that do not follow the regular spelling patterns convention used for past simple and past participle. Examples include; eat, think, buy, bear, drive, pay and redo.
English Verb Tenses
When using verbs to construct sentences, it is important to consider the three major tenses to use; past, present, and future. You use past when an action has already taken place, present when the action of interest is happening and future for actions that have not yet happened but will happen in the future. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the tenses with examples;
- Simple present: I read nearly every day
- Simple past: I read an entire novel yesterday
- Simple future: I will read a book per week for the rest of the year
- Present continuous: I am reading the bible at the moment
- Past continuous: I was reading Shakespeare last weekend
- Future continuous: I will be reading Mark Twain next month
- Present perfect: I have read 2 books this month
- Past perfect: I had read more than 20 books in my first year of high school.
- Future perfect: I will have read 50 books by the end of this year.
Core English Language Skills
From what we have discussed so far, learning English can be both time-consuming and challenging but the opening of new opportunities afterward makes it worthwhile. To significantly improve your English learning skills, pay attention to the following areas;
- Listening Skills – at the point of listening, the brain tries to make a mental image of the scene that will remain as a memory to keep referring to.
- Speaking Skills – speaking allows a learner to practice pronunciation and mistakes commonly occurring in speech can be easily corrected.
- Reading Skills – Reading text in a foreign language is an effective tool for proving vocabulary and sharpening concentration because it often involves using words in context.
- Writing Skills – writing allows language learners to practice spelling and punctuation as well as develop the confidence to take a course taught in the language.
If you master these four skills as a learner of English, your ability to express yourself in the language improves with time. There is no shame in taking extra classes or help with English assignments to achieve your goals faster. The internet has plenty of resources to accelerate your learning journey effectively and affordably.
10 Reasons to Learn English
1. English is a global language
English is the most commonly spoken language in the world. One out of five people can speak or at least understand English!
2. Studying English can help you get a job
English is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. Knowing English increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company within your home country or of finding work abroad.
3. Learning English can help you meet new people
English is the official language of 53 countries and is used as a lingua franca (a mutually known language) by people from all around the world. This means that whether you’re working in Beijing, or travelling in Brazil, studying English can help you have a conversation with people from all over the world.
4. Many scientific papers are written in English
In the last century, the number of scientific papers written in English has started to outweigh the number of papers written in the native language of the researcher. In the Netherlands, for example, the ratio is a surprising 40 to 1. For this reason, having a knowledge of English is incredibly important to those working in the scientific field.
5. English is the language of the media industry
Because of the prominence of Hollywood in global media, an enormous amount of films, TV shows and popular songs are written in English. If you speak English, you won’t need to rely on translations and subtitles anymore to enjoy your favourite books, songs, films and TV shows.
6. English is the language of the Internet.
English is a particularly important language online with more than half the content on the internet written in English. As well as this, some of the world’s largest tech companies are based in English speaking countries.
7. Travelling is a lot easier with a good knowledge of English
Imagine you’re a Spanish person on holiday in Thailand, while your hotel receptionist might not be able to answer your question in Spanish, it’s likely they will be able to answer your question in English.
8. English is one of the most important languages for business
Whether you’re a business owner, student or employee, English is incredibly important in the business world. English is considered to be one of the most important business languages due to being the de facto language of the United States and the official language of the UK, Canada, India and South Africa.
9. With English, you can study all over the world
Since English is spoken in so many different countries there are thousands of schools and universities around the world that offer programmes in English. If you speak good academic English, there’re lots of opportunities for you to find an appropriate school and course to suit your needs. Find out about going to university in an English speaking country.
10. English gives you access to multiple cultures
Good knowledge of English will allow you to access films, music and literature from hundreds of countries around the globe. Not to mention the fact that numerous books from across the world are translated into English. Few experiences will make you grow as a person more than learning the values, habits and way of life in a culture that is different from yours.
10 reasons why English is such an important language
1. It’s the most commonly spoken language in the world
Depending a bit on how you count, in addition to the approximately 400 million native speakers, English is understood and/or spoken by 1-1.6 billion people. With over a quarter of the world speaking the language, there’s always someone to practice with, especially when you travel.
2. It’s the language of international business
With world business headquarters predominantly in the financial hubs of the UK and USA, English has long been the default language of trade as you can read in the history of the English language. Therefore, English is the dominant business language and it has become almost a necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter a global workforce, research from all over the world shows that cross-border business communication is most often conducted in English. Its importance in the global market place therefore cannot be understated, learning English really can change your life.
3. Most movies are in English
Hollywood is a powerhouse of global entertainment, so it’s natural that English would become the main language for movie-making. Sure, the movies are often dubbed over or subtitled – but they’re really best enjoyed in the language in which they were intended.
4. It’s easy to learn
This is debatable depending on who you speak to, but it’s generally accepted that English isn’t the most taxing language to get to grips with. The vocabulary is simple to grasp and it has developed throughout different languages regarding its evolution that is explained in the article about the history of English language. Therefore, many speakers of those languages can see where concepts in English originated from and fast adapt to understand the basics of English.
5. It helps you understand other languages
English has a long and fascinating history that spans wars, invasions and influences from around the globe. Cultures that have helped shape modern English include Romans, Vikings and the French. For this reason it’s a hybrid language comprised of Latin, Germanic and Romance elements.
6. You can say things in a hundred different ways
One of English’s best assets is its flexibility: you can often find many different ways to to explain the same thing thanks to its wide range of vocabulary. It’s said to have well over 750,000 words (depending a bit on how you count – some generous estimates put that number at 1 million) and is adding new ones every year as mentioned in the article about the history of English language.
7. It can be used around the world
English is also hugely important as an international language and plays an important part even in countries where the UK has historically had little influence. It is learnt as the principal foreign language in most schools in Western Europe. It is also an essential part of the curriculum in far-flung places like Japan and South Korea, and is increasingly seen as desirable by millions of speakers in China. Therefore, if you have the basics of English language you can make yourself understood in nearly every corner of the world.
8. It’s really flexible
Non-native English speakers who learn it as a second language often comment on how many ways there are to say things. That’s because English doesn’t discriminate – you can use it however you like. Countries like Singapore have taken this concept to heart, inventing an entirely new type of English called ‘Singlish’ that has absorbed facets of other languages like Chinese and Malay.
9. It’s the language of the internet
Most of the content produced on the internet (50%) is in English. So knowing English will allow you access to an incredible amount of information which may not be otherwise available.
10. It continues to change
Selfie, Hashtagging, Blogging, Smasual, etc. All these words are new to the English language but have already become valued members of the lexicon. More than any other language, English continues to evolve and absorb new words that branch out – often untranslated – into other languages. Every year approximately more than 1.000 new and approved words are added to the Oxford Dictionary. This tremendous development is the result due to technology, Social Media and how people spontaneously coin new words during daily life.
Resources
gudwriter.com, “Why is English Important Today?”;