If you have been learning English as an additional language for a while you have probably wondered why English is important for students (and professionals) in today’s world.
You have probably noticed the ever-increasing number of people starting to learn English. Why is that so? Due to the importance of the English language in contemporary society more and more people are becoming English language learners all over the globe.
These new learners are part of a group of people that have realized that if they want to climb up the career ladder or travel the world comfortably they need to acquire a new skill: being able to speak English!
As a student, you might ask yourself: why is it important to learn English?
If you want to know every detail of the answer to this question, keep reading!
The Importance of the English Language
Throughout world history, as different groups of people from different geographic locations and different ethnicities have met each other, different languages were adopted as a lingua franca. But what does that mean?
A lingua franca is a language that is used as a contact language when two people from different cultures meet and need to communicate with each other.
In this sense, examples from the past are the Latin and Greek languages. Both were used in the past as contact languages. They were also the languages used for the education of the elite, and the writing of important texts such as academic and literary ones.
Today English has become a lingua franca. As different people prefer to label it in different ways, you could also say that English has become a global language (or an international language).
Speaking English nowadays means that you are better equipped to talk to people from all over the world. And this is extremely important in a globalized world such as the one we live in today.
Why Is English Important for Students?
Among many other possibilities, the reasons why speaking English is crucial in the contemporary world are fourfold.
As an English speaker, you can experience personal development. Speaking a different language enables you to see the world from different angles. It gives you access to a lot of different voices interpreting the world. You can listen to people talking about everyday problems we face in our society, you can read new books that will provide you with other ways of seeing the world, and you can read the news from different media. This enables you to ‘read’ the world differently from the way you are used to doing using your mother tongue. In other words, it gives you access to new discourses – new ways of understanding, talking about, evaluating the world, and exercising power over it.
As an English speaker, you can compete in the global job market, not only locally. Have you ever thought about this? As a student, you will graduate from high school and potentially go to college to get a degree. After that, you have to enter a very competitive world where every skill that you have can give you some advantage over other job seekers. Because of globalization, most (if not all) big companies have international (even intercontinental) businesses. Being able to talk to people from each corner of the world is essential. These companies are often the best options if you want to get a good job and be able to climb the career ladder. Or would you like to work for a local business without many growth opportunities? You choose.
Academically speaking, most of the top-ranked universities in the world teach courses in English, be it undergraduate courses, master’s, or doctoral studies. Thus, English enables you to study at all major universities in the world. Being an English speaker will allow you not only to take these courses but also to build your network in these environments, something that is crucial for climbing the career ladder.
As an English speaker, you can also get by in major cities all over the world. Are you a person who likes to travel a lot? Or would like to travel the world in the future? If so, English will be an invaluable tool. Besides enabling you to travel to English-speaking countries such as the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., Australia, India, etc., it also enables you to travel to the most remote parts of the world where English is not the first language but where there will surely be someone who speaks it.
Here’s a List of Why English Is Important for Students
- It is important personally.
It enables you to broaden your horizons and see the world in different ways. - It is important professionally.
It enables you to get better job positions. - It is important academically.
It enables you to take courses offered by the most important universities in the world. - It is important for traveling.
It enables you to talk to people in every corner of the world. - It can help you get your first job.
It enables you to have an advantage over your competitors when seeking your first job. - It can help you meet new people.
Are you an outgoing person? If so, English will help you make new friends no matter where they are from. - You can read important academic/scientific texts.
In an era where information and knowledge are of utmost importance, English will let you have access to information firsthand. - It is important to surf the internet.
It is the dominant language of the internet. If you can at least understand it, you will have access to most of the content available online. - Intercultural competence with other people.
Speaking English enables you to talk to people from different cultures. This makes you more understanding. - Boost your confidence.
If you learn how to speak a new language, you can probably learn anything else you want. - Entertainment.
Time for a movie? A tv show? A good book? English gives you endless options for entertainment. - Learning a new language makes you smarter.
Research has shown over and over again that learning how to speak a new language is good for your brain. Not only it makes you smarter but also prevents you from developing degenerative diseases.
Why is English Essential Nowadays?
As discussed above, being able to speak English as an additional language nowadays is extremely important. As more and more people are learning it all over the world, it has become a global language. English is widely used in technology, science, commerce, tourism, entertainment, etc. If you speak English, you can benefit from these skills in your personal, academic, and professional life. If you cannot, you are lagging.
If you want to learn or develop your English language skills with an effective study plan, check out our awesome article on how to learn English by yourself.
