Why study English?

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 360.

Ex. 2. Discuss the text according to the plan.

1. The status of English throughout the history.

2. Geographical distribution of English as a native language.

3. The use of English as a second and foreign language.

What's the aim of learning English at the University? There are several reasons for it: historical, academic, economic, practical, intellectual, entertainment, etc. But every student has his personal motivation which is often the mixture of reasons mentioned above.

For most students English is the proper language to speak with the rest of the nations, the so-called lingua franca. It may provide a role of a neutral means of communication between different ethnic groups in the emerging multicultural world.

Part of the students especially those who connect their future career with business and trade understand that they may need English. Any multinational business will wish to establish offices in the major English-speaking countries, especially the USA and Great Britain. So you should be knowledgeable about how to communicate with multicultural audiences and markets.

There are many other international areas where you can't do without English. English is the language of international air traffic control, and is developing its role in maritime, emergency services and international political relations. The tourist and advertising industries are also English-dependent.

There are those who need English as a source information, mainly professional. Most of the scientific, technological, and academic information in the world is expressed in English, and over 80 percent of all the information stored in electronic retrieval systems is in English. Linguistic proficiency will increase career prospects of a specialist in any field. That's why more than 50 percent of the English course is devoted to studying English for professional purposes.

All students want to know English as the main language of popular music and its advertising. It is also the main language of the satellite broadcasting, home-computers, and video-games. You can't make use of them without English.

Personally I want to know foreign languages because I have always been interested in foreign countries, their cultures and peoples. Learning foreign languages is important for me because I want to know what is going on around me in the world. Language not only broadens the mind, it enriches us culturally. We learn to appreciate ways of life which may be different from our own. It equips students with the communicative competence which is the universal competence of today.