Language is our primary source of communication. It’s the method through which we share our ideas and thoughts with others. Some people even say that language is what separates us from animals and makes us human.

There are thousands of languages in this world. Countries have their own national languages in addition to a variety of local languages spoken and understood by their people in different regions. Some languages are spoken by millions of people, others by only a few thousand.

Why Learn English?

English was originally the language of England, but through the historical efforts of the British Empire, it has become the primary or secondary language of many former British colonies such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and India. Currently, English is the primary language of not only countries actively touched by British imperialism, but also many business and cultural spheres dominated by those countries. It is the language of Hollywood and the language of international banking and business. As such, it is a useful and even necessary language to know.

• It’s the Official Language of 67  Countries

400 million people around the world speak English as their first language. Not only that, but English is listed as one of the official languages in more than a quarter of the countries in the world. That’s a lot of new people you can communicate with just by improving one language!

• It’s the Most Widely Spoken Language in the World

What’s more, English is the rest of the world’s “second language”. While Chinese Mandarin and Spanish are the mother tongues of more people overall, most people in the world choose to learn some English after their native language. In fact, one in five people on the planet speaks or understand at least a little bit of English.

This makes English one of the most useful languages you can learn. After all, you can’t learn all 6,500 languages in the world, but at least you will be able to communicate with people from all different countries using English.

• It Can Help You Get a Better Job

Companies are becoming more international, and English is listed as an essential skill for more and more jobs. There are some organizations that now conduct all their business in English, no matter where in the world they are based. If you want the best-paid opportunities, learning English is a great idea.

• It Makes It Easier to Travel

As I said before, English is the world’s second language. This means that learning English makes it much easier to travel anywhere you want. For example, airplane announcements, train timetables, emergency information, and street signs are often translated into English, particularly in countries that use a different type of alphabet. Plus, even if you don’t find other travelers or local people that speak your mother tongue, you are practically guaranteed to find someone who understands some English.

• It’s the Language of the Media

Most of the content on the internet is written in English. Many of the world’s biggest news outlets, including TV, newspapers, magazines, and radio, are produced in English. Some of your favorite films, TV shows, and pop music are probably English-language. Go to any international film festival in the world and you will see that all films are either in English or have English subtitles.

English is the international language of media and arts and so, if you want to access as much as possible for yourself, without relying on translations, it’s the most powerful language you can learn today!