Why should we learn English?

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 choose English?

Well, English has been described as “the language of opportunity”. Being able to speak English allows you to communicate effectively in numerous countries. It can also potentially open doors to loads of possibilities for you in terms of the countries you could choose to seek work in one day – not to mention travel to as a tourist.

English is a global language and according to British Study Centers, “English is the official language of 53 countries in the world and spoken as a first language by around 400 million people”.

Evidently, it is a necessary form of communication, both verbal and written. It’s the language of business, tourism, science and art.

There is also a dire need to learn the language in many parts of the world. In emerging markets like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam, or low-income countries striving to climb the ladder of economic development, it is a current urgent priority of governments and non-government organisations to ensure that the surging population of global youth has economic opportunities and upward mobility. The idea of learning English has widely been accepted as best practice and programmes are in place to facilitate this, such as the ‘Right to Reading’ initiative in India and many projects alike across the world.

Therefore, it is not just about passing matric with above 40% (in South Africa). If you don’t have a basic understanding of the language, you may lose out on credibility with peers, potential employers and those grading your papers at a tertiary institution.

Everyone has their own unique reasons for wanting to learn the English language. But while the reasons may be different, they can all be put into action in the same way: by committing to stop making excuses, and to start. Once you’ve held your very first conversation in the English or any other additional language, trust me: you’ll never look back.