English around me (essay)

Essay

ENGLISH AROUND ME

About one hundred years ago many educated people learned and spoke French when they met people from other countries. And hardly anyone knows, and even can imagine that English language used to be the language of the mob, even in the UK. But today it has become the new international language. Most people speak English when they meet foreigners. I’d say, there are more people who speak English as a second language than people who speak English as a first language. Why is this so?

There are many reasons why English has become so popular. One of them is that English has become the language of business. Another important reason is that popular American culture (like films, music, and McDonald`s) has quickly spread throughout the world. It has brought its language with it. English has spread to all parts of the world so quickly. And it’s important to have a language that the people of the earth have in common. Scientists have already tried to create an artificial language that isn’t too difficult and doesn’t include any one group’s culture. It is called Esperanto. But it hasn’t become popular. But maybe the popularity of English will be for ages. Who knows?

Today, millions of people want to learn or improve their English. I’m sure, at present no other language on Earth is better to play the role of a world language. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person. Our world has become very global and we need to communicate with one another. Imagine, you are a specialist in some branch of science, technique or production, or you are a businessman. Then you must know a foreign language to have contacts with foreign colleagues, to read special literature or to take part in conferences.

At the moment most Internet sites are in English. English is the dominant language in world media and communications. Almost all international business, academic and diplomatic negotiations are in the language of Shakespeare. English unites people and helps to communicate with people from every corner of the world.

English language is the key to real mobility in the world, enabling to study, work and travel around the world. I like travelling very much. And I see that English can put me in touch with local people. Our national histories and cultural heritage may differ, but our aspirations and hopes for the future are closely in tune. And “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart” (Nelson Mandela, civil rights activist).

English has become the language that much in Ukraine wants to learn. Learning the language is prestigious. Therefore courses and schools for learning English are opened in all cities. Every year the number of people, who learn English, increases, people understand how important it is to speak the world's universal language. Of course, the best way to know English is being abroad. However you can speak English staying in Ukraine. Because English is around you and me. English is everywhere. It is the language #1 in all spheres: education, business, tourism, science, sport, literature, music and just communication.

We dream that everyone in Ukraine manage to speak English in addition to our mother tongue. Actually, English language has become the “new Latin”, the lingua franka, of the century. And everyone must know English to be a part of the XXI century.