Why is it so important to speak English?

Last Tuesday was the European Day of Languages, established by the Council of Europe. Being a teacher of English myself, you may imagine how relevant it is for me to speak foreign languages, given that you see the world in a different perspective and learn a great deal about different marvelous cultures. In fact, last year I wrote a post about the importance of learning foreign languages that you can revisit by clicking on the link. This year, though, I have decided to write a post about the importance of learning English in this multicultural world. 

From : http://valanglia.blogspot.com.es/2015/11/english-spoken-countries.html

1. English is one of the most spoken languages across the world : Who doesn't know this ? English is the third language with more native speakers in the world (360 million native speakers), only outnumbered by Chinese (1.2 billion speakers) and Spanish (with 400 million speakers). Who would have said that Spanish has more native speakers than English ? I am flabbergasted, aren't you ?

2. English may not be the top most spoken language but it is spoken everywhere : In fact, English is the authentic lingua franca in this multicultural world. It is the common language in speeches in international congresses, among politicians... Incredible though it may sound, the number of L2 speakers of English (that is, those who speak English as a second language) way outnumbers almost any other language (except Chinese). If you go to South Africa, you can speak English; if you go to Germany and you can't speak German, no problem as long as you can get by in English. 

3. If you want to read...most material is published in... guess what ?... English ! 

It is estimated that almost 80% of the world's material is published in English. English has become the ruling language if you want to be informed and up-to-date. But it goes beyond that. Most online material is published in English and that also happens with films and other publications in specialized journals. 

4. English has become an international language. If you don't speak it, you're out ! : Imagine you travel on a plane or train and there are important announcements. Don't you worry, if you can speak English you are safe and sound !  No matter where you travel, you are likely to communicate in English at some point !

From : http://valanglia.blogspot.com.es/2015/11/english-spoken-countries.html

5. English is the language of multiculturality : It is often said that Spaniards can't speak English very well. And though that may be partly true, we can't deny that our country is flooded with a vast number of English-speaking visitors. Don't believe me ? Go to Majorca or Benidorm. You will definitely need English to communicate there ! 

6. No English ? No promotion at work : This statement may be a little bit exaggerate but it is not far from the truth. To get a job, languages are important and English might be the most important one. We need English-speaking waiters or receptionists to deal with the huge mount of tourists flooding our country. In other jobs, English can imply a huge pay rise or a once-in-a-lifetime work opportunity ! 

7. English is a challenging language, with hundreds of quirks (and a twisted pronunciation) : English is really different from Spanish, French or Italian. Speaking English (or any other language) will help you to exercise your brain and be active. If you regularly read my blog, I'm sure you will agree with me that English is really interesting from a linguistic point of view. If you don't believe me, go to my section of English quirks.

8. English is a language with lots of different accents : There are countless varieties of English with a lot of quirks, changes in pronunciation and many other characteristics, but all of these varieties are valid for communication ! English varieties will enrich your knowledge in languages but they will also test your English proficiency ! 

So, what are you waiting for ? You can do it. Start practising (or resuming) your English. Think of the English language as a marvelous trip you're going to take, a trip where you'll learn a language that you 're definitely using in the future, a fascinating language that will allow you to understand the English culture in many different ways !