english has become a second language in countries like india

French (by far the most sought-after, IMO), Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, and Farsi/Dari/Tajik, as well as any local language of a particular region in a developing country. That means being able to work in Chinese, Hindi, or local tribal languages also increase your chance of landing a job abroad. Language, country, or region. Male TTS voice. Female TTS voice. Arabic. Not applicable. Hoda. Arabic (Saudi Arabia) Select the language you would like to install voices for and select Add. The new voices will download and be ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed. English (India) Ravi. Heera. English The history, passion, and soul of your culture lives in each word you speak in your native tongue. Language is more than a way to communicate with others. Imbued in it are the customs, traditions, and passions of a certain culture. Through language, histories of a people, a way of life, are passed down in nuanced ways. Belarusian. Archi. Xhosa. Esperanto. Quechua. If you've never heard of these languages, you aren't alone. Some, like Welsh, are only spoken by less than 20% of a single region or country's population. Here's a cool video that will provide you with more language facts about the weirdest languages in the world. More than 350 million in the world has been speaking English as their first language. On the other hand, almost half a billion people are using English as their second language. It is considered to be the world's lingua franca since English being used as the major language in many countries worldwide. Meilleur Site De Rencontre Pour Homme Marié. Language is our primary source of communication. It's the method through which we share our ideas and thoughts with others. In order to communicate effectively, one needs a language that is widely understood and is common. Over the years, English has become that sort of language. It is the language most commonly used and understood almost by everyone. So it is easier to communicate in English as it is the best way to express ourselves. In the present age, it has become even more of a medium of almost communication because it is the language of the Internet and the computer. As of 2020 there are billion English speakers around the world. This makes it the most spoken language, ahead of Mandarin Chinese billion speakers and Hindi 637 million speakers. More than 50 countries officially list English as an official language. Globalisation is the process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange. Globalisation has increased the production of goods and services. For both native speakers and English for Speakers of Other Languages ESOL speakers, strong communication in English involves four modes reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Different people have naturally differing aptitudes for these skills. This paper has attempted to analyse the importance of communication in English language and the significance of globalisation and English language. Discover the world's research25+ million members160+ million publication billion citationsJoin for free International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Volume 10, Issue 5, May 2022, PP 10-16 ISSN 2347-3126 Print & ISSN 2347-3134 Online International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 10 Significance of Globalisation and English Language Dr. Bipin Bihari Dash Assistant Professor in English, Odisha University of Technology and Research, OUTR, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Formerly CET, Bhubaneswar English is a language of international commerce, it is the language of diplomacy and it contains many a rich literary treasure; it gives us an introduction to western thought and culture. M. K. Gandhi 1. INTRODUCTION Globalization is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. Globalization has accelerated since the 18th century due to advances in transportation and communication technology. This increase in global interactions has caused a growth in international trade and the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and culture. Globalization is primarily an economic process of interaction and integration that is associated with social and cultural aspects. However, disputes and diplomacy are also large parts of the history of globalization, and of modern globalization. It is pertinent to note that R. W, Emerson, the American author gave a significant view on English language. According to him “the English language is the sea which receives tributaries from every region under Really, this language surrounds us like the sea, and like the waters it is deep and it is full of mysteries. This is used not only by the vendors but also by the professors. It creates its warmth and strength of the atmosphere. We live in and by language. The growth and development of the language is a remarkable matter. English is the most-spoken language in the world, and it can be found spread far and wide. While there’s no official lingua franca for the planet, English is often used to communicate across nations. This is because of a number of historical factors, most notably the patterns of colonialism by English speakers. Out of the world’s approximately billio- n inhabitants, billion speak English. The majority aren’t native English speakers, however. About 360 million people speak English as their first language. The most common first language is Chinese, followed distantly by Spanish and then, in third, comes English. In addition to being widely spoken, English is by far the most commonly studied foreign language in the world, followed by French at a distant second. Abstract Language is our primary source of communication. It's the method through which we share our ideas and thoughts with others. In order to communicate effectively, one needs a language that is widely understood and is common. Over the years, English has become that sort of language. It is the language most commonly used and understood almost by everyone. So it is easier to communicate in English as it is the best way to express ourselves. In the present age, it has become even more of a medium of almost communication because it is the language of the Internet and the computer. As of 2020 there are billion English speakers around the world. This makes it the most spoken language, ahead of Mandarin Chinese billion speakers and Hindi 637 million speakers. More than 50 countries officially list English as an official language. Globalisation is the process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange. Globalisation has increased the production of goods and services. For both native speakers and English for Speakers of Other Languages ESOL speakers, strong communication in English involves four modes reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Different people have naturally differing aptitudes for these skills. This paper has attempted to analyse the importance of communication in English language and the significance of globalisation and English language. Keywords Globalisation, Language, Communication, Lingua Franca, Culture *Corresponding Author Dr. Bipin Bihari Dash, Assistant Professor in English, Odisha University of Technology and Research, OUTR, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Formerly CET, Bhubaneswar Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 11 English is the language of sports and of glamour world; the official language of the Olympics and the Miss Universe Competition. It is the official voice of the air, of the sea, and of the modern world. The most important broadcasting companies in the world are CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC, and CBC transmit in English to audiences that regularly follows. English is used as the first language in the countries like USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has become a second language in countries like India, Nigeria and Singapore. It is a vital alternative language. It is quite helpful for trade and research work. The emergence of English as a global phenomenon – as either a first, second, or foreign language – has recently inspired the idea that we should talk not of English, but of many Englishes, especially in Third World Countries where the use of English is no longer part of the colonial legacy, but the result of decisions made since independence. But what kind of English is it? That is a new and debated one which needs to be explored completely. “The future, of course, is unpredictable, but one thing is certain the present flux of English – multinational standard or international Babel? – It is part of a process that goes back to Shakespeare and beyond” Maclarm et al 21. In today’s global world, the importance of English cannot be denied and ignored since English is the most common language that is spoken everywhere. With the help of developing technology, English has been playing a major role in many sectors including medicine, engineering, and education. It is the only language which is being taught as second language and as an official language in almost 102 countries. It is not only currently considered the most important language for those who speak it as their first language but also for them who speak it as a second language. English is essential when it comes to finding jobs or for building career. We know that Communication is very keen role in any field, whether it is business, medicine, transportation, technology, trade or marketing. English is globally accepted and known by all. Globalization covers all aspects of life. Deep understanding is very important in every field. Without proper communication it is not possible to be in connection. ï‚ It is essential to work ï‚ It is the universal language ï‚ It will open the door of new cultures ï‚ It will help to travel comfortably ï‚ It is the most learned language ï‚ It is required to surpass yourself ï‚ It is an Art and Anglophone literature ï‚ It eliminates weaknesses ï‚ It helps us to higher studies English has quite a big role in day to day life. It is used in banks, railway stations, bus stops, airways, educational sector, medical, private sector, etc. It is a trade language with other countries. Many students fly abroad for education and jobs. If their mode of communication is English they can manage their communication with the local people. And students are prime learners of English because if they want to build up a good career, they have to have good English speaking skills and confidence to face many people in interviews. Without English it is very tough to manage in this ultra-modern world. Language has a great impact on the division of the different traditions and cultures of different people. You learn more about the traditions, cultures and customs of different peoples around the world through travel and learning. For this effective communication is a necessity. English Language empowers people from around the world. The Internet also plays an important role in promoting English as the standard language. Through the pages of various social networks people connect with each other from anywhere in the world, mostly through English. This is because this language is accepted worldwide. English is also essential for air traffic control and flight crews. There are several factors that make English language essential for communication at the present time. First, it is a common language in foreign. This means that two people from two different countries usually use English as a common language to communicate. This is also called lingua franca. This is why everyone needs to learn the language in order to interact at international level. The Prominent Arenas of English are as follows Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 12  Administration  Education  Inter-state communication  Judiciary system  Medical sciences  Media  Language of Hollywood  Science and technology  Social contact  Internet and Press  Official correspondence  Telephone  Travel and Business  Debates  Group Discussion GD  Public speaking  Presentation  Personal Interview PI  Seminars, conferences & workshops  Used in Intergovernmental Organisation UNO In many countries, children are taught and encouraged to learn English as a second language. Almost 90% educational subjects are written in English. Number of scientific innovations and books are written in English Language. On the Internet, most websites have written content in English. Even sites in other languages offer them the option to translate the site. It is the primary language of the press, more newspapers and books are written in English than any other language and no matter where you are in the world, and you will find learning material of English language easily. With good sense and communicate in English, you can travel around the globe. It will also help you in any business venture you decide to do. If you visit any office, company, government organization or even company, you will see the importance of English. Every large company will employ their professional staff after confirming whether employing people with good knowledge of English or not. Companies that they want to work at the international level will consider their staff well educated only if they are speakers, writers and good readers of English. The remarkable features of the English language are discussed below 1. English is the most common spoken language in the world. 2. It is the language of science, of aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. 3. It is the official language of 102 countries. 4. It is the language of media industry both for electronics and print media. 5. It is the language of the websites. 6. Since English is spoken in so many different countries there are thousands of schools around the world that offer programmes in English. If you speak English, there’re lots of opportunities for you to find an appropriate school and course to suit your academic needs. 7. By learning English, you will learn about other cultures. Few experiences will make you grow as a person more than learning the values, habits, and way of life in a culture that is different from yours. 8. As the third most widely spoken language in the world, English is widely spoken and taught in over 118 countries and is commonly used around the world as a trade language or diplomatic language. It is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy and tourism. 9. It’s easy to see just how important English is around the world. Many international businesses conduct meetings in English, universities teach courses in English and, around the world, tourists and travellers use English as a common language. 10. Good knowledge of English will allow you to access films, music and literature from hundreds of countries around the globe. Not to mention the fact that numerous books from across the world are translated into English. Few experiences will make you grow as a person more than learning the values, habits and way of life in a culture that is different from yours. Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 13 In today’s technology–driven world, it is impossible to achieve in one’s academic or professional career without acquiring proficiency in English. It is now the most widely used language in a large number of work places in India. It is also the most common language used by speakers of different languages around the world. In India, great importance is given to English language learning in educational institutions at various levels. The increasing importance of English has led several employees to recruit people with a good command over English for operations that involve with both national and international clients. Realising the demand for English at work places, several Indian universities, technical universities, IITs, NIITs have included course such as English communication skills, communicative English, Business communication English, technical communication, professional communication in their curriculum. The technical universities also conduct the language lab classes. There are several forms of communication that are common to most workplaces-oral forms such as meetings, face-to-face, telephonic conversations, negotiations and written forms such as letters, memos, e-mails, and circulars. All these forms require the use of appropriate expressions in English so that the message is direct, precise and clear. For today’s professionals, the internet has become the most important source of information and instruction, as well as medium of communication. Again, English is the most widely used language over the internet. This being the account of the unrivalled position of English language, the illustrious men of English literature, the Indian artists, poets and writers have literally held the world at sway and more than half of the people of the world have derived solace and solution, aesthetics felicity and critical acumen, pleasures and profit as well as all the facilities and devices necessary for a quick, prompt and useful means of communication starting from a common vender on the street to the Nobel Awardees in literature. English has been the only source of expression that has enabled modern man to manifest his ideas and vision. Needless to say, for the last one and half century English has played a very significant, meaningful, and healthy role in shaping the ideas, ideals, and visions of the inhabitants of the world. This has been possible chiefly because the principal spokesmen, the poets, writers’ novelists, critics, and artists, while being extraordinarily honest to the principles of art and aesthetics, have been careful enough to keep them within the fringe of literary boundaries. Indeed, the people have had reposed great confidence, hope and trust in the artists. The literary world has been upheld by great academic of the world, particularly an academy like the Swedish Academy which has been the source of great inspiration and patronage to the writers and artists of the globe chiefly for its high academic standard and principle. But of the doubts and suspicious have underscored the academy for its selection of writers and spokesmen who have been not only controversial but suspicious of their aims and achievements. A few deserving men of high calibre refused to accept the award chiefly because motives and designs which were below their self dignity and respect were attributed to them. This naturally has caused much concern and anguish to those devoted to English language and literature. Another cause of disturbance in the quiet and calm realm of art is due to the unexpected shift of the artist and writers from their long association with the cause of literature to grounds like politics or interest leading to the dismantling of their literary tools and tenets. It is matter of fact that the great critic, writer and linguist like Noam Chomsky leaving his long associated art of literary criticism to join socio-political activities making him appear in an opposite self. English being a world language reflecting a universal panorama of international culture and multiculturalism and humane view, appears to lose its clear and unprejudiced effect when great leaders, statesman and highly responsible persons make pronouncement, or statements that tend to create tensions or stress in the minds of the civilised public leading to great conflicts and schisms in the human relationship. The term clash of civilisation leads to a chaos of the conflict between East-West encounter. This further brings forth racial, cultural, religious, and ideological differences. The great leaders of the world have sought to identify their selves with this idea to justify their activities of aggression and suppression for the purpose of their political achievement. Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 14 The modern civilisation requires the unity of the world in respect of language and culture. Familiarity with German, English, Spanish, French and Italian is no longer sufficient for anyone wanting to keep abreast of modern civilisation… The tendency is for the world to have a single civilisation; but there is a multitude of languages of civilisation Antoine Meillet, 1918. In an era of increased communication through the telephone, fax machine, television, and modem, the world is becoming more and more globally oriented. Businesses, families, friends, and many other groups with common interests are able to form small “tele-“ or “cyber-“ communities that transcend geographic boundaries. Yet, despite our ability to transmit information across oceans, communication still relies on language to mediate interchange between individuals within these communities. Information is useless if it cannot be processed and understood. Therefore, in order to achieve true and complete globalization, we would have to eliminate language barriers and develop a universal standard according to which everyone could interact at the same level of understanding. People who expect English to triumph over all other languages are sometimes surprised to learn that the world today holds three times as many native speakers of Chinese as native speakers of English. “Chinese,” as language scholars use the word, refers to a family of languages and dialects the most widely spoken of which is Mandarin, and which share a written language although they are not all mutually intelligible when spoken. “English” refers to a family of languages and dialects the most widely spoken of which is standard American English, and which have a common origin in England - though not all varieties of English, either, are mutually intelligible. The versions of English used by educated speakers practically anywhere can be understood by most Americans, but pidgins, creoles, and diverse dialects belong to the same family, and these are not always so generally intelligible. The notion of “English as the Global Language” reflects a completely new phenomenon, even though many researchers of the use of the English language for international communication had undertaken a series of research studies of English as a Lingua Franca ELF as distinct from research of the English language usage by native speakers themselves yet long before it acquired the global status at the turn of the twenty first century. Language is a system of communication that relies on verbal or non-verbal codes to transfer information. Communication is a way of interchanging messages or information between two or more people, focusing on the message. Language is a tool of communication. Communication is a process of transferring messages. Language allows people to communicate with great precision. The Language and Communication group studies how people use language in specific discourse contexts, to share information with others, and to persuade or otherwise affect them. The contemporary American philosopher David Abram wrote, “Only if words are felt, bodily presences, like echoes or waterfalls, can we understand the power of spoken language to influence, alter, and transform the perceptual world” Abram, 1997. This statement encapsulates many of the powerful features of language. Language express our ideas, affects our credibility, means of control, per formative, dynamic and relational. Let’s discuss briefly  Language helps us express observations reports on sensory information, thoughts conclusions and judgments based on observations or ideas, feelings, and needs.  Language is powerful in that it expresses our identities through labels used by and on us, affects our credibility based on how we support our ideas, serves as a means of control, and performs actions when spoken by certain people in certain contexts.  The productivity and limitlessness of language creates the possibility for countless word games and humorous uses of language.  Language is dynamic, meaning it is always changing through the addition of neologisms, new words or old words with new meaning, and the creation of slang.  Language is relational and can be used to bring people together through a shared reality but can separate people through unsupportive and divisive messages. Compressing the world into global village; Move to open up the world economic; Technological advancement to encroach on cultural, political, economic in terms of globalization as a faith accompli; A general process of complex connectivity and a multi-diametrical process providing simultaneously in cultural and technical spheres; An ambitious projection of the cultural imperialism; The Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 15 homogeneous formation of the big powers for sweeping the world market under the global pressure; and a general spread of capitalism and modernity into entire world. But all these lead to actually uneven spread of globalization. It actually becomes the encroachments of Western capitalism and rapacious indigenous elites. This analysis brings us to the discussion mainly at the cultural level relating to globalization vis-à -vis India and brings to the foreground the relevance of Edward Said’s theory of the post – colonial study. According to him, “every work of art or literature text is worldly it takes all aspects of a work of art that involves the writer, the text, the reader, the time, the culture and the influence. The critic Gayatri Spivak has suggested that one has to envisage a universal civilization that excludes the one-way theory of the oriental culture and includes the culture that moves on two ways and thus throws open the importance of the Eastern culture in general and the Indian culture in particular in the course of dialogue on civilization right from the ancient time to the present day. A study from this angle, the study of the relevance of Eastern culture in the world civilization will ultimately reveal the place, role or insignificance of the much talked phenomenon known as globalization. The next claim relates to globalization in the field of culture. As per the post-colonial theory of literary criticism, the west wants its culture to take over the entire world. For it believes in the superiority and greatness of western cultures as it is supposed to have acquired the standard of having the only multicultural elements to sweep the whole world. In other words, the globalization instead of being a two-way traffic becomes a one-way traffic. We, for example, in India because of our colonial heritage, accept what Gayatri Spivak calls a belief in the normality of the other. Hence globalization as a movement has created much of the dilemma, conflict and contradiction in the post colonial period which need to be reflected in the works of artists who have been evidently disturbed and even hurt by these developments. All these elements as discussed above have appeared in the literary world revealing the various extra-literary or lop-sided priorities and principles or even misplaced values and human norms that have soiled the clear and crystal stream of art and literature. It is high time to re-think the whole problem and evolve a new outlook, and a fresh attitude for creating a correct place for English literature in the context of modern world. Under this circumstance, it is important to note that English is becoming the universal language of the world. It is important to note that there is no more question regarding the immense importance in these days of knowledge of the English language to all educational pursuits in all parts of the world. Thus, we have to admit that English language competency is a strategy asset in the global market place. It is not only the medium of global communication, but also the language of academic thought, scientific research, technological development and the language of international trade and negotiations as well as recreation and entertainment. This advocacy of mastering a second language does not mean we are replacing or diminishing the importance of our national language. The national language will always have a place in our daily life, in our national culture and heritage. However, bilingualism if not multilingualism is a global competency that would be required of a global citizen who will have to work as members of a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team. It means mastering two or more languages, not replacing our national language; or to put it another way, as English becomes everyone’s second language, their first language, their mother tongue, becomes more important and more passionately held. To conclude, the entire issue, avoiding all kinds of bias, prejudices, egoistic, and selfish notions, proud and dogmatic attitude attributed to English, we must make a fair and honest approach to this language in the spirit of aesthetic principles and create an atmosphere and environment wherein the creative artists and literary figures should dispel the note of discord and disharmony caused by the recent phenomena in order to give a new direction to English language and literature to create a fresh literary world of peace and harmony, love and understanding and universal friendship and brotherhood. Overall, in this paper I discussed globalization and its impact on the English language with special reference to communicative approach. In a nutshell, globalization is a recent phenomenon and has a wide connotation meaning various aspects of the development in the modern world. 2. CONCLUSION English is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and is now a global lingua franca. It is an official language of almost 105 sovereign states and it is the third most common native language in the world, after Mandarin and Spanish. It is widely learned as a second Significance of Globalisation and English Language International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL Page 16 language and is an official language of the United Nations, of the European Union, and of many other world and regional international organisations. Globalization has become a reality of modern life. It is one of the most important components of international communication. The worldwide spreading of information would be hardly possible without language, which is basic to international and intercultural social interactions. Thus, the significance of the world languages under conditions of globalization is difficult to overestimate. As the result of the expansion of British colonial power and the emergence of the United States as the leading economic and political power, English has become the medium of intercultural communication, taking the leading role in world business, science, popular culture, mass media etc. In fact, it proves that colonialism and post colonialism give us new hope and aspiration for our lives. This trend is further developed by English-mediated technologies and the internet. The concerns among the students and politicians have also hold responsible for the spread of English language. The role of English as a global language only prove that it may function under good governance for the sake of promoting global understanding and preserving local diversity. REFERENCES 1. Abram, D., Spell of the Sensuous New York, NY Vintage Books, 1997, 89. 2. Crystal David. English as a Global Language. 2nd Ed. United Kingdom; CUP, 2003. 3. Das, Shruti. Contemporary Communicative English. New Delhi; S. Chand and Company Limited, 2000. 4. Dash, Bipin Bihari. Professional English. New Delhi; JTS Publications, 2020. 5. Dutt, P. Kiranmai et al. A Course in Communication Skills. New Delhi; CUP, 2008. 6. Gray, John. Vicious and Benign Universalism Globalisation and Development of Studies. New Delhi; Vistaar Publication, 2001. 7. Huntington, Samuel. The Theory of Clash of Civilisation. 8. Maclram, R. W. Crax, R. Macnel, Ed. The Story of English. London Faber and Faber, 1986. 9. Meillet, Antoine, Les langues dans l'Europe nouvelle, Paris Payot, 1918. 10. Said, Edward. Orientalism. Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1978. 11. Spivak, Gayatri. Outside in the Teaching Machine. 1963. 12. Srisa-an, Wichit. Global Education, Borderless World, Thailand; Samboon Printing Co. Ltd. 1998. 13. 14. AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY Dr. Bipin Bihari Dash, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Odisha University of Technology and Research OUTR, Odisha, India. He received an M. Phil and Degree in English and in Linguistics from the universities of Odisha, India. He has contributed thirty two research articles on English literature and language to different international Journals to his credit. He has presented many research papers in seminars and conferences. He is the author of four books and contributed seven chapters for edited books. He is the reviewer of two journals. His areas of interest are Indian English Literature, Postcolonial Studies, Phonetics, ELT and Professional English. Citation Dr. Bipin Bihari Dash. “Significance of Globalisation and English Language” International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature IJSELL, vol 10, no. 5, 2022, pp. 10-16. doi Copyright © 2022 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this as a Global Language. 2 nd Ed. United Kingdom; CUPCrystal DavidCrystal David. English as a Global Language. 2 nd Ed. United Kingdom; CUP, Communicative EnglishShruti DasDas, Shruti. Contemporary Communicative English. New Delhi; S. Chand and Company Limited, DashBihariDash, Bipin Bihari. Professional English. New Delhi; JTS Publications, Course in Communication SkillsP DuttKiranmaiDutt, P. Kiranmai et al. A Course in Communication Skills. New Delhi; CUP, and Benign Universalism Globalisation and Development of StudiesJohn GrayGray, John. Vicious and Benign Universalism Globalisation and Development of Studies. New Delhi; Vistaar Publication, Theory of Clash of CivilisationSamuel HuntingtonHuntington, Samuel. The Theory of Clash of Civilisation. English as a second language is it really useful? Is it hard to learn? Lingoda breaks it down for you! Why English? There are many good reasons to learn English as second language. There are more than 6,000 different languages spoken all over the world, but English is and will continue to be a common means of communication for speakers of all languages. According to the most recent statistics, English is the mother tongue of more than 375 million people. English is the official language in 54 countries that cover Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia, and which include countries as diverse as New Zealand, South Africa, Belize, India, Malta, and Singapore. This means that English is a truly universal language that makes communication across the globe easy and convenient. In addition, English is the world’s most popular second language choice. The British Council estimates that more than 1 billion people are learning English as a second language at any given time. English is taught at school as a second language in hundreds of countries all over the world, from France to Thailand, Israel to Malaysia, in Sweden, China, and in many other countries. Because English is taught all over the world, you will never feel alone during your learning process, and it will be very easy to find other English learners who can share their experiences with you during your wonderful journey through the world of ESL. Difficulties for English Learners So you have decided to learn English as second language. Are you afraid of making mistakes? If you are, don’t let your fears become an obstacle and stop you from achieving your goals. You’re not alone Language learners often make mistakes because they are influenced by their native language. The best strategy is to become familiar with the most common difficulties that you face when learning English as second language. This will help you avoid them and develop successful learning patterns. Pronunciation problemsDo you feel frustrated every time you try to communicate in English and people fail to understand you? It’s possible that you are pronouncing certain sounds incorrectly. For example, English vowel sounds are notoriously difficult to master for speakers of languages like Spanish or Italian. Why? There are only 5 vowel sounds in Spanish, but there can be up to 20 vowel sounds in English. Chinese speakers may have problems pronouncing the different “r” sounds in English, and Arabic speakers find it difficult to pronounce the “p” sound, as it doesn’t exist in their mother tongue. Syntax and grammarMany learners transfer the grammatical patterns of their first language into English. For example, many Asian languages do not use articles a, an, the, which results in incorrect sentences like “My mother is doctor”. Spanish speakers might translate directly from Spanish into English and say things like “I have 20 years old”. French speakers may have problems with word order and construct incorrect sentences like “I play sometimes football” or “he is your brother?”. Problems with vocabularyThe incorrect use of vocabulary is another common challenge. English has dozens of “false friends’ Words that are similar in your mother tongue and in English but which mean different things. For example, “piles” means batteries in French and the word also exists in English, but it doesn’t mean batteries at all it actually means hemorrhoids. Spanish speakers might misuse the word “sympathetic” which means compassionate in English, thinking that it means the same as the Spanish word “simpatico” friendly. At Lingoda we believe that difficulties are opportunities to learn and we can help you improve your English language skills with our interactive learning methods and experienced native teachers. Benefits of Learning English as a Second Language Learning English as a second language could be one of the best decisions that you ever make. Being fluent in English can help you in many ways, whether you are planning to travel, study in an English-speaking country, emigrate, or improve your career prospects. Think about the following English is the most popular language on the Internet. In 2010, the world wide web had more than 536 million English-speaking users. Nearly billion websites are available in English. Approximately 66 per cent of the world’s scientists and researchers use English as a second language. Twenty-five per cent of the world’s population speak English at basic-intermediate level. You simply can’t get into some professions unless you are competent in English. Some of these professions include air traffic controller, the diplomatic sector, and some jobs in the computing or information technology industry. If you want to live and work in an English-speaking country, immigration authorities will ask that you have a certificate that proves your English language skills. To sum up, we live in a globalised world where only competent English speakers have the best opportunities to progress and get ahead in their personal and professional lives. Ready to start learning with Lingoda? Other Resources to help you learn English Have a look at these contents deep dive in the English culture and discover all the English Speaking Countries; have a look at these charts about the English greetings; here you can find a breakdown of all the required skills for you to achieve A1 level in English. Have a look at our Blog, you’ll find lots of posts about the benefits of mastering the English language! Are you a Native Spanish Speaker? Or are looking specifically for American English courses? Check them now! Multilingual And English As A Second Language Education In Formerly Colonized Nations In the United States, many people struggle with the idea of learning more than one language. Multilingual education is not a focus in the US, and is not seen as the necessity that it is in many other nations. Meanwhile, in former British colonies such as India, South Africa, and Nigeria; multilingual education allows people to keep a bond to their cultures while also serving as a uniting voice. Each of these regions has their own way of handling this education, and their own reasons why they approach multilingualism in the way they do. The unifying fact is that multilingualism is an important part of their education, cultural preservation, and economic progress. Why Is Multilingual Education Important? All of these nations have a shared history of being British colonies. As such, English many times became a language of both economic survival and necessity. English was declared to be the official languages of these countries, or would be declared bi-lingual with the dominant national language co-existing with English. In order to do business or participate in civic actions, you would have to be able to speak both languages in some capacity. Education systems were designed to teach a bi-lingual population, however in many cases this was limited only to the upper and upper middle classes. The lower classes were in many cases denied these opportunities as a matter of station, education was out of reach and so they only knew their local language with any fluency. This, of course, only served to stratify the class divide and benefited the wealthy and colonizers more than anyone. As time went on, each of these nations gained independence or had a transfer of power of some kind, and as such they faced the question of the future of their multilingual education. They each took different yet similar approaches that we will be taking a look at in this article. We will also be looking at the history of multilingualism in these regions and why it can be a cultural necessity as Encore!!! app is a tool that is developed to facilitate multilingual education, as such, we are very interested in taking a look at the different approaches and lessons that can be learned worldwide. We also want to see what lessons can be learned from these countries’ experiences. Multilingualism In India We are starting off by looking at the largest of these countries by population India. In India today the official languages are Hindi and English, and over 26% of the population is bilingual. Languages in India are complex, with 122 major languages and 1369 “rationalized mother tongues”. The Constitution of India recognizes 22 official regional languages as of 2011. The individual states of India are divided based on languages and social lines in most cases, and they can legislate their own official languages. This has some interesting effects where some regions have chosen minority languages as their official languages. The History Of English As A Second Language In India The history of the colonization of India is much too long of a story to address fully here. A shortened version of the story will say that many European nations made their way across the region looking to control trade, and after a long struggle with the Dutch, Britain ultimately laid claim to the nation. In 1858 India came under direct control of the British crown. English came as a language earlier with the East India Company, and as the era of British Crown rule began, schools across the country had been established that taught English as a main language. When India gained independence in 1947, the only common language across India was English. In the attempts to shake off the effects of colonization, attempts were made to make Hindi the sole national language. However, many of the states did not speak Hindi and it was decided that English would be temporarily retained as a second language. That temporary retention has moved to a more permanent status as English has had a change in its perception from colonizing language to a means for economic progress. Multilingual Education In India India has had an educational policy of trilingual learning since 1968. This policy means that in schools students are taught in their regional state language and have to study Hindi or English for their full education, as well as either a modern Indian language or a foriegn language for three to five years. This however does not always work in practice, and many English language schools teach a more English only education. Unfortunately, education is still restricted in many ways to the more elite in India. While compulsory education is provided to children from ages 6-14, many public schools are severely underfunded and private schools dominate the landscape in some areas. Meanwhile, in rural communities, educational completion rates are lower as well as the literacy rates. Currently, educational policy planning is looking towards focusing on teaching children in their mother tongue. As schools that teach in English only have trouble with most parents not being able to speak English. The divide between what a student speaks at home versus school causes problems with comprehension. The new focus on multilingual education can serve to help more students learn in a nation that has retained a resistance to a single common language. Focusing on teaching in the mother tongue of the student while they establish cognitive abilities, will help them to learn English and other languages better in later years. Multilingualism In Nigeria Nigeria’s official language is English and it is spoken as a second language by 60 million of the nation’s 200 million people. Along with English there are over 525 native spoken languages in Nigeria. English is a more popular language in the urban centers of the country, as it is a major force in global business and trade. Meanwhile, rural areas tend to use their ethnic / regional languages as a dominant language. Multilingualism has a more mixed perception in Nigeria than in some other countries. There are divides in perception with some feeling that the growing dominance of English is bad for the local languages and cultures, with another side of the discussion seeing multilingualism as fueling regional conflicts due to a lingual divide and arguing for a further assimilation into a national language such as Nigerian English. The History Of English As A Second Language In Nigeria Nigeria was formally colonized by the British Crown in 1900, though that was after 200 years of increasing British influence on the region. In 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the crown and English was established as the official language of the country. Nigerian English has become a nativized form of English and it has some unique elements that separates it from the British English from which it originated. Nigerian English has its own sets of grammatical, pronunciation, and spelling rules. It also has its own variations and levels of usage based on region and education. Multilingual Education In Nigeria The educational system in Nigeria has many of the same issues as India. Economic and social divides mean that poor students and those in rural areas do not have the same educational prospects as those from wealthier urbanized families. English is the official language and is used in business, entertainment, and is the dominant language in education; especially in higher education. However, a renewed look at how students learn is resulting in a discussion about students learning better when being taught in their native languages. This is resulting in policy discussions similar to India, where local languages are being seen as a link to better understanding and education. Multilingualism In South Africa South Africa has 35 indigenous languages of which 10 are considered official languages. English is the 11th and primary official language when it comes to governmental participation. English is only the 4th most common language in the country, spoken by just under 10% of the population; however it is the dominant language in government and media. Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans are the three most spoken languages. The History Of English As A Second Language In South Africa The original colonizers of South Africa were Dutch, and eventually their language became Afrikaans. However in the 1800’s, the British took control of the area and proclaimed English as a national language. The history of the languages of South Africa is the story of colonization, slavery, apartheid, oppression, and the struggles of its people. South African English is a variety of English spoken in the area, and it has closer ties to British English than a nativized counterpart like Nigerian English. This variety has its own sub varieties that, much like the history of the nation itself, is divided along class and racial lines. Multilingual Education In South Africa In South African schools, English is the preferred and primary language. This has been influenced heavily by parents and public perception that an English focused education is superior. Much like in the discussions for the previous countries, there is an abundance of policymakers looking at the research and understanding that education that starts in a student’s home language provides greater understanding and results. This could also help counter the growing concerns of speakers of languages such as Bantu, who are concerned about the loss of their language to English. Multilingual education is also increasing in popularity in higher education as well. Knowing that students need to be able to move into the world and communicate with people who do not speak English in their communities, as well as using the same research about students connecting with material in their home language, universities are encouraging this continued cultural connection. Encore!!! And Multilingual Education The Encore!!! app operates in much the same way as the educational plans that these countries are looking towards. When you are learning and relating via your home L1 language, you can much easier learn a second L2 language. As our world becomes more connected, the ability to be multilingual will become more and more important. While English is currently a dominant language in trade and international politics, other languages are starting to increase in power as well. Learning to communicate in more languages will help everyone participate in the global economy. At the same time, Encore can also help people to learn regional languages and communicate with people who do not speak English as fluently or even just allow people to connect with their own cultures better. Conclusion Multilingual education is increasing around the world. In many countries that were once English colonies, this means developing a better relationship with native languages as well as increasing education in English. Research shows that the connection between the two is strong, and focusing on a monolingual education in a place with diverse languages has more negative effects than positive. Many of these lessons are also applicable in the United States and Canada too. Pressures for immigrants to shed their native languages, and ESL classes that focus on only teaching English do not properly connect with students. Connecting with our cultures and home languages can help keep indigeonous languages alive, while also helping us to communicate with more people. This map shows the second most common first language in nearly every country in the world. These are people who speak it as a first language, we decided this was a more revealing metric as it illuminates the ancient furrows of conquest, colonisation and recent immigration trends see Polish in the United Kingdom or Spanish in the United States.English takes the crown as the most common second language around the world with 55 countries speaking it as a second language. France and Russia are second and third with 14 and 13 languages are grouped and colour-coded by language family languages with a common ancestor. English is everywhereThe reason this figure of 55 countries speaking English as a second language is so staggering is that those people speaking English are doing so as their FIRST language. That is a quarter of the countries in the figure doesn't even include people who speak English as their second you found that interesting, check out the world's highest paying translation languages here.

english has become a second language in countries like india