English in modern lifeEnglish is a world language. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business. It is the universal language of international aviation, shipping and sports. It is also the major language of diplomacy.
English is spoken by more than 360 million people. Geographically, it is the most widespread language on earth, second only to Chinese in the number of people who speak it.
It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the Republic of South Africa and the Irish Republic. It is also spoken as a second language in many parts of India and Africa. Half of the world’s scientific literature is in English. It is the language of computer technology.
Besides, millions of people study and use English as a foreign language. In our country English is very popular: it is studied at schools (sometimes even at nursery schools), colleges and universities.
There are various reasons for the importance of the English language in the world of today. Lets quickly go over some of the most important reasons:
1.Travel: When a person travels to another part of the world either for the sake of business or even as a tourist, the languages may differ. In these conditions, English is the language that helps people to deal with the situation. It is like a universal language: English is the language which connects people regardless of race, religion, age or sex.
2. Education / Studies: Knowledge of the English language gives the opportunity to study in prestigious universities abroad.
3. Internet: In spite of the growth of Internet in various languages, English is the mainstay of the Internet users. This is the language in which most of the information and websites are available.
Next, the book. Reading foreign book in its original context, without translation, you can get much more pleasure from reading, since translation usually is not quite accurate, depends on subjective opinions and skills of an interpreter, and can not convey the true thoughts and emotions that are invested by the author.
And finally in possession of the English language, you always have the opportunity to talk with interesting people on various topics in English, make useful contacts and find new friends among foreigners. Thus, the role of English language in the world can talk endlessly.
Learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and patience. But to know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. English is the language of the great literature. It is the language of William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens. The great German poet Goethe once said, “He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one”. That is why in order to understand oneself and environment one has to study foreign languages.
Questions: 1. Why do we study foreign languages? 2. What foreign languages do you know? 3. Are you doing well in English? 4. Is it difficult for you to learn English? 5. Why are the teachers of English in great demand? 6. Why is English worth studying? 7. What was your favourite subject at school?
Word List:
trade – торгівля cultural relations – культурні зв'язки commerce – торгівля, комерція, спілкування universal language – універсальна мова shipping – судноплавство widespread – широко поширений half – половина foreign language – іноземна мова various – різний importance – важливість, значення, значущість reason – причина another – інший sake of business – заради бізнесу differ – відрізнятися; відрізняти; розрізняти, вирізняти 2) розходитися в думках, не погоджуватися conditions – умови to deal with – мати справу з connect – з'єднувати, зв'язувати; сполучати regardless of race – незалежно від раси knowledge of the English language – знання англійської мови opportunity – можливість prestigious – престижний abroad – за кордон in spite of – незважаючи на mainstay – опора available – доступний original context – оригінальний контекст pleasure – задоволення quite – цілком, зовсім depends on – залежить від convey – перевозити, транспортувати 2) передавати (звук, запах); повідомляти; висловлювати, виражати (почуття) invested – інвестований in possession of – в розпорядженні various – різний useful contacts – корисні контакти endlessly – нескінченно patience – терпіння absolutely – абсолютно necessary – необхідно educated person – освічена людина environment – навколишнє середу
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