English Language: Key to Global Access

English Language: Key to Global Access
By: Kyle A. Tumapang
“Language is the blood of the soul in which thoughts run and out of which they grow,” as once said by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
We cannot deny that we are all experiencing the effects of globalization. Globalization, as we all know, is the process of interaction, and integration among peoples, companies, and governments of different nations. Due to its continuous rise, the unity of people around the world is greatly needed. But how can unity be achieved if these people, with different cultures and languages, fail to communicate and understand each other?
English language plays a great role in having global access. Not just for the reason that it is the universal language, but also to the fact that it contributes much to many aspects of life, like when you are travelling to other countries, you can really expect that these people will speak using their native language. Yet, you can assure that a few of these people know how to speak using the English language. Their accent might be different and would vary every now and then, but their statements are completely understandable. Let me cite you an example, from an accent of “Good day mate!” to a simple “Good day”, both still have the same meaning. In countries like the Philippines, which it consists of 7,107 islands with people of various cultures, the languages they speak also differ. During these situations, English can be the bridge in their communication. In the field of education, English is the medium used in most of the basic subjects like Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Math. Moreover, all correspondences between offices in different countries, and also between political leaders of various nations, are still in English. This linking factor significantly tells us the importance of the English language. English is also the mainstay of internet users. This is the language in which most of the information and websites are available. Thus, the given situations emphasize the importance of the English language in the field of globalization.
In addition to this, English language can also lead the progress of a nation. Citing the Philippines as an example, the country is recently proclaimed as the third largest English speaking nation in the world. With this information there is no surprise that Philippines was named as the best country in Business English, according to a recent study of the Global English Corporation. Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks". The corporation also noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success. If also other countries would imitate the Philippines, there is no doubt that one day these countries would contribute in the field of globalization.
English is the queen of all languages. It has become the language of science, commerce, trade and international negotiations. We, would not be surprised that in the future, English can be the reason of the union of various nations, and also be the key to global access.