In India, English is spoken at work, in schools and colleges, and at home. But why do people speak English so much? Why is it the language of business? Here’s an interesting look into how Indians learn English, what they use it for, and how learning a second language can help with your career.
The UK is a fantastic place to learn English as an international student. It’s a friendly, multicultural society with many opportunities for study and work. There are also plenty of places to visit, from the beautiful city of London to the countryside in Wiltshire.
Are you going to college, pursuing a degree, or just looking for a new skill? If so, learning English may be the perfect way to get ahead.
Why is English an important language?
English is an international language used by at least 264 million people around the world. It’s a highly valued skill in today’s job market, and one of the fastest growing skills according to News Release, English learners .com
The International Tourette Syndrome Association says that more than half of all people with TS1 or super fidgety syndrome have been shown to be bilingual – which means they may understand spoken words but can’t produce them without something physically distracting them. Many young people have tried to learn English by speaking a second language – like French or German, for example – but that’s not really working so well. Trying to manage two languages at once doesn’t make things much easier on your brain! See also, why learning English is important.
Why do speakers of other languages need an advantage in their career?
Abigail Ekvall of LearnEnglish, an organization devoted to helping non-native speakers learn and use the English language to the best of their ability, has an answer for that question too. She says “What we hear in English is known as a ‘signal’. Some signals produce speech or writing but some don’t. Unfortunately, those signals (eg: yawning) can interfere with great care being taken to observe what works and what doesn’t – so people learn ineffective strategies like finger counting or word mnemonics which are cumbersome and confusing.”
8 Benefits of Learning English
1. Improve and widen employment opportunities
According to Englishlearners.com, the average income for people who can speak 4 or more languages is over $11,000 per year higher than those who only speak one language. Take note!
2. Explore the world with confidence
If you continue to learn English, it will be easier for people around the world to communicate with you and understand what your doing in life.
3. Access world-class education systems and establishments
Your retirement years will be filled with access to world-class schools and universities where you can continue your learning.
Getting an education isn’t just about passing a test, it’s also about exploring the new cities around them – after all why would you study in Europe if there wasn’t going to be so much outside of that exam? And remember knowledge is constant! You don’t have exams like high school students do – but each year as long as you are learning and exploring the profession, you’ll be able to keep in touch with the world. And who knows? Maybe after retirement you will want to go back – or even lead that college into something greater!
4. Increase your cognitive ability (aka, brainpower!)
For right now, your brain is no match for the rest of humanity’s. But each year you are doing something to improve yourself, that number will increase and make it harder (and better) for others to recognize your skills.
5. Start a life in an English-speaking country
After retirement, the United States is one of only 7 countries where an English passport will be mandatory for unrestricted travel. Many countries require a specific language test to get your international resident visa.
6. Improve communication skills
Even if you’re not retiring abroad, the ability to communicate with other cultures is an invaluable skill that can be applied later in life. If for now, you are just trying to get through college and graduate school or work your physical stamina will only improve as years go on so why wouldn’t communication skills at a native level? A fascinating aspect of language learning is how even when two people have lived in different areas but speak similar languages they’ll still understand each other better – because they’ve both processed their native languages but have also been exposed to the foreign words and phrases. Once you retire, you’ll be able to find friends from all over the world at your local bar – or that exchange student Visa can get in contact with his family now!
7. Open up a world of entertainment and popular culture
Hollywood has been a force for global communication and entertainment, but it’s up to us. Movies in parts of the world are not necessarily made by U.S or UK filmmakers so you can always regard “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” as a kind of homage to biculturalism instead of just being ignorant as most Americans do today when they see foreign movies (think Knight & Day).
8. Improve your confidence
Most people in their first jobs don’t have a lot of experience and the only thing they feel is that things are different than home. Once you retire, however, many job skills will grow on a daily basis; one that you can improve not only your language ability but also various cultural challenges. In addition to improving communication abilities – which can be valued for any kind of field or occupation – exploring an entirely new culture every day with fellow retirees provides valuable social perspective and new friends.
We’ve all heard the joke about when you’re around foreigners for more than a day, some things can get confusing so “The following is only an unofficial translation in cases of disagreement during your stay abroad…”
All in all, we can say that retirement gives you the opportunity to travel, improve your language skills and make new friends from all over the world. You May Like listening to English is a skill.