Why do we learn a foreign language?

Some time ago a newspaper reporter called the modern Earth 'a world-village'. It really means that year by year the earth is getting smaller with the development of communication and increase in international trade. People of different countries and nations have to get along well with the progress in world trade and technology as well as with each other. Learning foreign languages is especially important nowadays. Some people learn foreign languages because they need them in their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby. A modern engineer or even a worker cannot work with an imported instrument or a machine if he is not able to read the instruction how to do it. Ordinary people need language to translate the instruction or a manual to a washing-machine or a vacuum-cleaner, medicine or even food-products.

First the English language became widely spoken in the world with the rise of British Empire. Then success of American industry and the growth of exports in technologies cause increase in circulation of the language. And the third factor of the last decades is remarkable boom in computer-related equipment and technologies as well as influence of British and American pop culture and films. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business. It is universal language of international aviation, shipping and sports. It is also the major language of diplomacy. Hundreds and hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers are printed in English, most of the world’s mail and telephone calls are in English. Half of the world’s scientific literature is written in English. English is spoken by more than 350 million people. Geographically, it is the most widespread language on earth, second after Chinese. It is the official language of the UK, the USA, of Australia and New Zealand, it is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the South Africa. Throughout the world many people use English as an international language.

Fortunately, I began learning English even before I could understand the importance of speaking and understanding it. Now I know that it is very useful for a XXI century professional no matter what field you are in. The international connections are getting tighter. One cannot do well without one of the common European languages. As for me I like reading in English and I would like to read Alan Milne, Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carrol in their native language. Besides, I can watch satellite TV programs, travel in the different parts of the world and make friends with people from different countries. I have a lot of pen-friends all over the world. They cannot speak Russian, which is more difficult to learn than English. I hope some day I shall meet these people face to face and we shall have a good time together.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-05