Importance of English Language
“IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE”
CRISTINA MARTÍNEZ SIERRA
DECEMBER 03/2012
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
“English is critical for countries’ successful participation in the global economy, that it provides individuals with access to crucial knowledge, skills and employment opportunities and enables organisations to create and sustain international links.”
(Council, 2011)
Recently I was in a well-known hotel for a conference. While I was waiting, I overheard a guest ask in English until what time was breakfast served. I was surprised to see that none of the staff members understood the question. After several tries I had to intervene and help with the translation. This experience got me thinking of what an important role the English language plays today: it’s the main source of communication; the way through which we can share our ideas and thoughts with everyone around the world.
The English language has experienced a huge expansion over time. During the time of Shakespeare, English was the native language of only a few million people in the world. It has since expanded to the point where today there are around 600 million people that have it as their mother tongue and a similar number of people use it as a second language.
Developments such as the automobile, airplane, radio, television, radar, computers and Internet along with countless others have enormously helped the growth of this language. All of these inventions were manufactured in the United States and Britain and exported to other non-English speaking countries, showing highly scientific and technological superiority.
This phenomenon resulted in these non-English speaking countries creating their own industries and importing technicians and scientists from developing countries, therefore contributing to the strength and expansion of English through trade, science and technology. The
CRISTINA MARTÍNEZ SIERRA
DECEMBER 03/2012
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
“English is critical for countries’ successful participation in the global economy, that it provides individuals with access to crucial knowledge, skills and employment opportunities and enables organisations to create and sustain international links.”
(Council, 2011)
Recently I was in a well-known hotel for a conference. While I was waiting, I overheard a guest ask in English until what time was breakfast served. I was surprised to see that none of the staff members understood the question. After several tries I had to intervene and help with the translation. This experience got me thinking of what an important role the English language plays today: it’s the main source of communication; the way through which we can share our ideas and thoughts with everyone around the world.
The English language has experienced a huge expansion over time. During the time of Shakespeare, English was the native language of only a few million people in the world. It has since expanded to the point where today there are around 600 million people that have it as their mother tongue and a similar number of people use it as a second language.
Developments such as the automobile, airplane, radio, television, radar, computers and Internet along with countless others have enormously helped the growth of this language. All of these inventions were manufactured in the United States and Britain and exported to other non-English speaking countries, showing highly scientific and technological superiority.
This phenomenon resulted in these non-English speaking countries creating their own industries and importing technicians and scientists from developing countries, therefore contributing to the strength and expansion of English through trade, science and technology. The
Bibliography: ✓ Council, H. C.-B. (August de 2011). Asociación Méxicana de Maestros de Inglés, MEXTESOL A.C. Recuperado el 20 de November de 2012, de Asociación Méxicana de Maestros de Inglés, MEXTESOL A.C.: http://www.mextesol.net/journal/index.php?page=journal&id_article=64 ✓ S.Arkoudis, L.Hawthorne, C.Baik, G.Hawthorne, K.O’Loughlin, D.Leach, E.Bexley (August de 2009). English Language Proficiency and Workplace Readiness. The impact of English language proficiency and workplace readiness on the employment outcomes of tertiary international students: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, Centre for the Study of Higher Education The University of Melbourne, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: http:aei.gov.au/research/Publications/Documents/ELP_Executive_Summary.pdf