It’s a question
that everyone from students to businessmen ask themselves every day, why
English? Why can’t everyone just speak Chinese, Italian or even Russian? Is
English really that important in everyday life? Well, yes, it is. English is
the widest spoken language in the world – it’s a global language. In fact,
interestingly, there are more non-native English speakers than there are native
speakers in the world. It is hard to guess how many people in the world speak
English to some
extent, but we know that the figure is over one billion. That’s
a lot of people. That’s a lot of business. English has become a necessity in
business and it plays an important role in the way English has spread around
the world. English is important to negotiate deals, fulfill orders and for
customer service – it has become more important because of globalization.
Globalisation through the internet, cheap flights and social media has made languages, especially English, more international. This has made English a compulsory means of communication – to understand and to be understood. Most of the major entertainment sources, from YouTube to Hollywood, are all in English. If you want to enjoy various forms of media such as music and film, English is vital. English is a culture, not just a language. It is a means of communication that everyone should be able to experience. It is important that students of English do not see it as a language but instead as an experience and an opportunity to expand your horizons and communicate with the huge international community who understand and use English in their daily lives.
If I go on holiday to
China and I want to buy a souvenir, but I can only speak Russian and have never
learnt Chinese how do I speak to this man? How can I get a cheaper price? I
might be lucky if the person spoke some Russian, but it’s more likely that the
person speaks some English. This is simply because English is one of the
“easier” languages to learn. Once you have mastered the subject- verb- object
word order and know how to ask a few questions you can quite easily communicate
with a complete stranger who doesn’t speak your language. English is important
in travel – on holiday, booking a room or asking for directions – someone you
meet will speak English.
Global business
communication, international travel and the huge entertainment industry are
just some of the reasons why English is so important in daily life. If you
don’t speak it already, or want to improve your level then now would be a good
time to consider an English language course while abroad. As an
example, a great destination that is not only beautiful to sightsee and explore
but also good to learn or improve your English is Malta.
The Maltalingua English Language School in St Julian’s, for example,
offers a variety of courses to meet the needs of all those looking to study.
Enjoy your new language skills!
