“Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow." – Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Whether in the physical or digital world, English is the medium that carries the burden of ideas and expressions and disseminates them. It is the vernacular of science, technology, trade, communication, and entertainment.
If you are still wondering why English is important for students, let us help you unearth the answer. In this article, we will not only tell you the importance of English in the life of a student but will also share easy tips to help you improve your English speaking and writing skills.
The importance of English transcends a singular aspect of life. Comprehending this universal language helps shape personal, professional, and social spheres of life. It opens academic and professional opportunities, helps students communicate effectively, serves as a window to the outer world, and catalyzes personal development.
Over 1.5 billion people across the world speak English with 129 in India alone.
Learning English is a potent way of achieving professional and personal success. If you are still not convinced, here are 10 reasons why English is important for students:
Roger Bacon, a 13th-century English philosopher once said, “Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.” And it wouldn’t harm us to add - “More so the knowledge of English.”
As English is the medium of instruction in most education systems, understanding this language unlocks several educational opportunities worldwide.
Leading educational institutions across the world require their students to have a certain level of English language proficiency to enroll in their courses.
Students who have a mastery in all four domains of the language have better academic prospects across borders.
The role of English in India surpasses its importance in embryonic career opportunities that manifest in the form of academic learning, but it is relevant to bigger career opportunities.
India is a rapidly growing economy and English is the common language for international commercial activities. Hence, understanding English is essential to conduct international business as it facilitates communication, collaboration, and trade.
English, being the fulcrum of international trade, opens employment opportunities for English speakers in various industries across the world.
Employers plump for candidates with strong English communication skills over non-English speakers.
Hence, students who are efficient with this language find it easier to find jobs in different industries, such as IT, marketing, tourism, aviation, finance, healthcare, etc.
As per the language gallery, English is the primary language in 20 countries. With 1.5 billion people speaking English as their native (380 million people) and second language (1.1 billion people), English eliminates the requirement of knowing the local language while traveling to a foreign country.
As English speakers are dispersed across the world, language is never an impediment to the traveling experience. Moreover, English is also the voice of all-embracing popular culture.
“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” — Rita Mae Brown.
The advancement of science and technology has made this planet a smaller and more intimate place, and more so the knowledge of English. It is easy for people sitting in the United States of America to talk to someone gulping coffee in Vietnam over a phone call or the internet because they both speak a common language.
English helps people to be included in the global community. It gives them the opportunity to inculcate friendships with students from other countries, to be involved in discussions, and to participate in various pursuits on a global platform. It also helps students appreciate diverse cultures.
English helps them stay connected to the rest of the world.
From news articles to research papers, journal articles, books, technical reports, magazines, and reference books - every information source uses English as its medium for sharing information. As most of the information resources are freely available on the internet, English can be the only hurdle keeping students from accessing them.
Comprehension of this universal language can help students break the barriers, imbibe knowledge, and keep abreast of the contemporaneous international issues.
One of the 10 reasons why English is important for students is its capability to instill confidence in students.
As English is the medium of instruction in most of the educational institutions in India, a grasp of this language helps students excel in academics. Students with better language skills communicate with nerve and poise. They seldom shy away from actively participating in class discussions, debates, presentations, public speaking, and other academic and co-curricular activities in their school.
English gives them the confidence to speak sanguinely and authoritatively (when necessary) in front of their peers.
English provides several avenues for individual growth by exposing students to an altogether new horizon. They get acquainted with different cultures, traditions, ideas, and perspectives. They get to see life from a new vantage point, which fuels their personal development. Moreover, learning English pushes them out of their comfort zone, makes them adaptable, and helps them acquire a growth mindset.
Learning English, or any other language for that matter, helps in boosting cognitive abilities. Several studies have been conducted on monolingual and bilingual children declaring the latter as smarter.
Children who grow up learning two languages show better academic performance, more creativity, and stronger communication skills. Additionally, they have better memorization skills and concentration.
English is an easy-to-learn language. Compared to other languages, it has a straightforward grammatical structure, which makes it easy to understand and memorize.
It allows students to frame sentences and impart their thoughts easily. With this, it enhances communication skills. Furthermore, with easy access to a lot of learning resources (for instance, through music, movies, plays, books, and the internet) students can master the language in no time.
The importance of learning English in India can never be understated. As it is a widely spoken language in India, exposing children to it at an early age can cement the way to their professional and personal success.
Now that you know why English is important in India, let us tell you some effective ways to improve your English. Whether you are having a tough time understanding the concepts of English Grammar or floundering with spoken English, these tips will help you get a good grasp on all aspects of English - speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
Here are some effective ways to improve English:
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”- Frank Smith.
English is the language of today, tomorrow, and years to come. This is the reason why every student should learn English in India.
CBSE Board ensures English is priority when using it as the primary language in school. While ICSE is known for complicacy with regard to English, CBSE focuses on strengthening the foundation to excel across multiple subjects.
