The Benefits of Learning English

English has developed into a modern language which is spoken widely throughout the world. Most native speakers of English come from Britain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Many developing countries are investing money for their students to learn English. There are three major benefits for learning English. English is important for communication purposes, to gain knowledge and to develop one's career.

Firstly, English is the chosen language of international communication. English has official or special status in at least seventy five countries with a total population of over two billion. Speakers of English as a second language probably outnumber those who speak it as a first language. It is believed that one out of four of the world's population speaks English while the demand from the other three-quarters is increasing. English is used by a large number of speakers worldwide and plays an important role in international communication.

Secondly, English is important to access knowledge. Many books and research articles are printed in English. English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air-traffic control, international business and academic conferences, science, technology, diplomacy, sport, international competitions, and advertising. Most scientists have to master English because they have to read as well as publish scientific articles in English. Furthermore, most of the world's electronically stored information is in English. A knowledge of English helps to access much information available in the printed and electronic forms.

Thirdly, English language proficiency is an additional advantage that helps you to develop your career. There are many professional jobs that require a good level in English. For example, a good command of English is an additional advantage when you work in a multinational company. Business and commerce are increasingly driven by international trade and if you are going to grow in your job you need to be able to follow this trend. In addition, technical skills are essential in modern industries and you need to be able to both read and write technical English if you want to maintain your technical competence. Therefore, competence in English gives you an added advantage in fields that require English language proficiency.

In conclusion, the importance of English as an international language is consistently showing positive trends. The number of learners of English is growing because it is a useful language to master. Amongst others, it is beneficial to learn English because of its role as a lingua franca, to access knowledge and to develop one's career.