Reason # 1: English is one of the most widely spoken languages. English is the language you’ll be able

to use most widely, as it’s spoken in more countries than any other language.

60 of the world’s 196 countries have English as their official language.

It’s the language of diplomacy and the official language of the European Union, the United Nations, NATO and the European Free Trade Association.

Reason #2: English will open up more opportunities for you. If you are a tourist, you’ll easily be

able to ask for directions, and taking guided tours, ordering food and chatting to the locals will no longer be a source of stress.

Being able to speak English opens up lots of possibilities for you in terms of the countries you could choose to seek work in one day.

Careers that involve lots of travel or international exposure, such as the airline, tourism and film industries, use English as their official language.

Reason #3: English will make you more desirable to employers.English has been referred to as “the language of business”, so adding English to your CV will be particularly useful for:

Business meetings

Customer service and sales 

Marketing and communications 

Reason #4: English gives you access to some of the world’s best universities.

English is widely regarded as the language of higher education. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and MIT are just a few of the famous universities that occupy the lofty heights of the top of the world education league tables, and you’ll need to speak English fluently for access to any of these, as they’re all English-speaking. If English isn’t your native language, you’ll need to take an English test during the admissions process to prove that your level of English is up to scratch for the demands of the academic environment.

Reason #5: English is the language of some of the world’s greatest literature.If you learn English, you’ll be able to enjoy works by some of the world’s most famous writers, in the language in which they were intended to be read or heard. Classics like:

Shakespeare’s entire collection Wuthering Heights  Jane Eyre 1984  Animal Farm Pride and Prejudice David Copperfield The Canterbury Tales

Reason #6: English allows you to get more from popular culture.

The world’s highest-grossing movies are made in Hollywood, and needless to say, they are made in English. How many times have you been to see an American blockbuster and been frustrated by having to keep up with fast-paced subtitles? And how many times have you hummed a favorite pop song, but not been able to sing along because it’s in English and you don’t know the words? There’s a solution: learn English.

Reason #7: English allows you to attend international conferences and events.Major sporting events such as the

Olympics and the Soccer World Cup are held in English, and so are international conferences, so competitors and delegates will need to be able to speak English to be able to get the most out of taking part. You may find yourself needing to attend conferences as part of your chosen career, so learning English now will be of enormous benefit to you in years to come.

Reason #8: English has a simple alphabet and everyone’s equal.

The English alphabet is straightforward, making it easier to master than the symbols or pictures that make up some languages. Even in French, which essentially uses the same alphabet, there are several accents used on certain letters that alter the pronunciation. English is the way to go!

Reason #9: English gives you wider access to knowledge. Did you know that 55% of the

world’s webpages are written in English?

English is essential if you intend to pursue a scientific career.

Within the Science Citation Index, compiled by the Institute for Scientific Information, an

estimated 95% of articles are written in English.

Reason #10: English is a fantastic intellectual challenge!English is undoubtedly one of the hardest languages to learn. Full of nuances, unexpected pronunciations, odd rules and infuriating exceptions to rules, it takes dedication and perseverance to reach a good level of fluency. English is so widely spoken that it opens you up to a huge number of new cultural experiences, which will help you develop life skills, meet new people and grow your confidence in handling new situations.