Adaptable English

English is the most popular second language, and is spoken by about 1.35 billion people worldwide, which is 17% of the world’s population. It’s the official language of 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities. English is also a major business language and the official language of many important institutions, such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. 

The first major factor in the English language’s journey to become a universal language was the British Empire’s global colonial expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its height, it was known as the “empire on which the sun never sets”. The latest, and perhaps the most pervasive factor, is the explosive expansion of the Internet. It now pervades nearly every facet of life worldwide. Thanks to the Internet, we can now claim that “the sun never sets on the English language!”

English is now mandatory in school curriculums around the world, as 142 countries require English to be taught in their schools. Additionally, 41 other countries offer it as an elective. I’ve had hundreds of students living in other countries where English isn’t their primary language, and I’m quite sure I’ve never had a student who wasn’t required to learn English anyway, as part of their regular schooling. It’s usually required by the time they reach middle school. It would be difficult to overstate how important learning English is to them and, perhaps even more so, to their parents.  Chinese students don’t begin formal schooling until they’re 7 years old, yet I’ve had Chinese students as young as 5 who could already converse a little in English. Their parents are usually right there making sure they get their money’s worth (and righfully so). By the time my students are in middle school, most can speak English quite fluently.