Should Everyone Learn English

by Jad
(Syria)

I would be pleased if someone could provide feedback. I want to know if my essay well-structured and the exact band.

Learning English at school is often seen as more important than learning local languages. If these are not taught, many are at risk of dying out.

In your opinion, is it important for everyone to learn English?

Should we try to ensure the survival of local languages and, if so, how?

In a globalized world, it is necessary to be multicultural and bilingual. But, what does it mean to be really bilingual these days? It is, above all, to have a good command of English, since it is a globally institutionalized language, in addition to your mother tongue. The adoption of English worldwide, however, is actually marginalizing other languages. In this essay, I shall argue that whereas learning English plays a vital role in career opportunities, preserving unspoken languages is quite important as well. I shall also purpose some solutions to retain them.

On the one hand, getting acquainted with English improves future prospects. To some extent, global businesses depend largely on English, since most of the transactions are carried out by British/American companies. In Syria, all foreigners carry out transactions through English. In many cases, the word foreign has become synonymous with English. For instance, if you want to have a well-paid job abroad, you need to familiarize yourself with English, because it is a formal language in many non-English speaking countries. A friend of mine had earned a scholarship funded by a Romanian university, and, one of the basic requirements was a band 6.5 in English. Fascinating! Right? They didn't even bother with the Romanian language!

Nevertheless, this does not reduce the importance of other local tongues. Language Learning is not restricted to business; rather, it is an artistic tool to convey national nuances and sensibilities. In other words, we should learn to embrace our similarities and acknowledge the differences. Imagine a world where English is the only spoken language?! It would look ugly and dull. It is true that language serves communicative functions, yet it is also a carrier of literature, culture, and tradition.

To resolve this complex, schools has to take the initiative in setting up programs that would target one's mother tongue and English simultaneously. Furthermore, they could encourage cultural diversity. For example, Japanese texts can be studied alongside canonical English works. Translation modules are one way to foster a sense of community, interaction, and cultural exchange.

In conclusion, rather than learning English, we should try to change our mindset to learning languages. It is the age of multiculturalism.

• Writing
• Reading
• Speaking
• Listening

• All Lessons
• Vocabulary
• Quizzes
  
• Videos
• Podcasts
• Forum
• Band Score Calculator
• Writing Feedback
• Speaking Feedback
• Teacher Resources
• Free Downloads
• Recent Essay Exam Questions
• Books for IELTS Prep
• Useful Links