5 Reasons Why You Should
Learn English
With over a billion people across the globe who either speak English or
who are in the process of learning English, and one in four people who can, to
some level, understand and/or communicate in English (according to the British
Council), an important question seems to organically come up: Why should one
learn English? Learning another language is not an easy process, it takes time,
and it takes determination. So before embarking on the long and adventurous
journey of learning English, it is imperative to ask ourselves why. I have
asked myself this very question more than ten years ago. Here is an updated
version of the list of reasons to learn English that convinced me to do so:
1. Professional opportunities
Being bilingual is something that more and more businesses all over the
world require from their employees. Besides the US and Great Britain, English
is the main language in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, parts of
Africa, India, and many smaller island nations, as well as the commonly adopted
second language in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Speaking English opens these countries and cultures up to you, the English
learner.
Most of the international business interactions that happen in different
parts of the world use English as a platform. You will hear business people
conduct business in English in Shanghai, Tokyo, Moscow, Budapest, Rio de
Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and many other cities around the globe. In order to be
able to function successfully in the field of international business,
communicate with other business people through email, memos, at conferences,
etc., one needs to be able to understand English and express thoughts and ideas
in English.
English is also the language of technology and science, especially
computer science, genetics, and medicine. If you are interested in these
fields, then learning English should be a priority. Being able to speak English
will make it easy to contact experts and scientists from other countries,
participate in international conferences, visit academic centers abroad, and
learn about new scientific discoveries by reading papers, books, and magazines.
2. Social networking and relationships – becoming a global citizen
English is not only the main language of business, but also the main
language of social interaction. Although most countries have their own
language, English is the one language that unites the entire world. Knowing
English is the most important step towards becoming a global citizen – a person
that can live anywhere, thrive anywhere, and speak to anyone. Would it not be
amazing to overcome all communication barriers and be able to exchange thoughts
and ideas with someone your age, or from your field of work, from say China or
Brazil? Forming lasting relationships, not only for business, but also for
friendship or for romance has the English language as the common denominator.
3. Entertainment and cultural understanding
The majority of films and entertainment programs in the world is in
English. Not to mention that the primary language that books are published in
is English. The wealth of information and entertainment that the world has
access to is primarily in English. It always feels like an accomplishment for
an English learner to be able to watch a movie in English with no subtitles, or
read their first book entirely in English.
Ultimately English makes it easy to access and understand other
cultures. When the language barrier is lifted, there is more space for
cooperation, for empathy, and for common ground. It would seem that having one
language that most people understand and speak does not leave much room for
variety, but in reality, it actually offers an opportunity for everyone to
participate, to let their voice be heard, to actively exercise their freedom.
4. Education – research and academics
With more than 2000 universities and colleges and more than 400 billion
dollars spent every year on research, the US alone offers an incredible array
of opportunities to those who are able to function in an English only
environment. There are many universities around the world that have recognized
the need for English and that are now teaching entire courses in English.
Knowing English also opens doors for study abroad – there are over 750,000
foreign students in the US (according to an USA Today article), and over
430,000 in the UK (according to the UK Council of International Student
Affairs).
5. Access to knowledge – the Internet
With the advent of the Internet, it is easier than ever to access all
sorts of information, but chances are that it will be in English. The
percentage of web pages with English content is estimated to be over 50%, while
the next language most used is German and amounts to less than 10% of pages.
The incredible amount of information on the Internet (some estimate it to a
trillion pages, compels us to consider English as a language more than worth
learning.
Learning a foreign language can be both challenging and rewarding. While
it might take you years to learn and perfect your English, the reasons
mentioned above should act as a motivator. With them in mind, make your first
step towards freedom and knowledge!
