It would seem that what knowledge of one or several foreign languages ​​can give, given the fact that work and communication between people in our country is conducted in Russian? In fact, a lot! Why is English needed? Why does everyone around want to learn it as best they can? The reason for the excitement lies in the fact that good knowledge of English - learning the language at the proper level, of course - opens up many opportunities!

English everywhere and in everything

A foreign language is one of the 6 official working languages ​​of the UN, the 3rd largest in the number of speakers in the world after Chinese and Spanish. Moreover, it occupies a leading position in international communication, trade, business, and cultural heritage.

That is why college graduates, students, schoolchildren, preschoolers, middle-aged and even retired people around the world strive to learn the subject at one level or another. The goals of each group are different, but it is important that they understand the value of the knowledge gained. Let's think about where English can come in handy?

Here are some fairly simple examples:

Business meeting,
correspondence, communication on social platforms,
personal communication with the carrier,
trips,
business and transactions abroad,
knowledge in the profession: IT, tourism, philology,
self-education.

Most seek to obtain a store of information to facilitate travel abroad or for the duty of the profession.

First category students covers basic conversational skills along with vocabulary that can be useful for long trips. Many manage to achieve significant progress in learning, after which there is a desire to move to the next level - above average, average or high.

For those who wish get skills for work , is more difficult. Business communication, correspondence, negotiating, conferences, making deals with foreigners is a typical job of middle managers. High knowledge is necessary for employees in the field of IT, travel agents for foreign trips, teachers of foreign philology, top managers.

What does knowledge of English give?

The standard question that you should ask yourself before learning is: “What will knowledge of English give me specifically?”. Already today you can get hundreds of answers on exactly how you can use lexical baggage!

Firstly, chat with anyone and about anything. Millions of people communicate in social networks, on thematic resources in English. It serves as a link between countries and continents.

Secondly, the possibility of obtaining a prestigious job and profession. It's not too late to think about this at any age! The work of specialists with knowledge of foreign languages ​​is valued much higher than ordinary employees.

Third, it is the boundless horizons of travel. In any corner of the Earth there is someone to whom you can ask a question in English.

Why is English needed? Another answer to the question would be self-education. To know several languages ​​means to increase your intellectual abilities. High knowledge of English, learning the language for doing business or knowledge of colloquial vocabulary will allow you to feel free in any country and communicate with foreigners.

Most people in the Western world learn English at some point in their lives, but if your high school years are just behind you or you've never had to learn English, you may be wondering why English is such an important language. If you are wondering "Why learn English?" below you will find some of the reasons why learning English is important.

1. English is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world.

Why is English so important? Every fifth person in the world speaks or at least understands English. There are 400 million native speakers of this language on the planet, and English is the official or one of the main languages ​​of communication in more than 50 countries. While Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian and German also boast large numbers of speakers and have grown in importance in recent decades, there is good reason to learn English. It is he who remains the least common multiple for people who meet and work together in different parts of the world.

2. English opens up new opportunities for you

Another important reason to learn English is that it increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company or starting work abroad. English is the language of business, which is why it is so important for employees to be able to speak English when communicating with colleagues from other countries and foreign clients. In short, learning English will help you make your career, so start learning now!

3. English makes you more attractive to employers

Just imagine: the next time you need to call an English client, you volunteer to do it and impress everyone around you. As mentioned above, a career is a great reason to learn English. You will feel more confident speaking English, even with native speakers, and earn the respect of your superiors.

Do you want to get a promotion or find a new job? We can help you with this, because teaching English is our forte!

• Learn English online
• Take the Level Completion Quiz on Busuu
• Get an Official McGraw-Hill Education Certification
• Add this certification to your LinkedIn profile and to the language proficiency section of your resume

This way your boss and potential employers will know about your outstanding English skills.

4. English opens your way to the best universities in the world

Where do you want to study? Have you ever thought about going to Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Stanford? And what about the prestigious English universities, Cambridge and Oxford? Even if getting into one of these universities isn't your plan, English is spoken in so many countries, so there are thousands of schools offering programs in English. If you speak English, there are many opportunities open to you.

5. Some of the greatest works of world literature are written in English

Maybe you always wanted to read the books of great English writers in the original? Learn English online and apply your language skills to read modern classics: JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, Stephen King novels or Lee Child's latest thriller. With each new book you read, you will develop your English skills and be able to go to the old masters of the word: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen or Henry James, and read their works in the original language. Start learning now, and very soon you will be able to read!

6. English helps you better understand pop culture.

Has it ever happened to you that a melody is spinning on your tongue, but you can't manage to sing it because you don't know the words? Or, even worse, for someone to catch you singing some of your own text instead of the words of a famous song?

Has it ever happened to you that you look at the lyrics of a song and realize that for many months, if not years, you have been singing not at all what should be there? Have you ever had to wait for your favorite author's new book to be translated, or suffer from terrible voice acting for your favorite TV series?

This is a great reason to learn English! You can read the works of your favorite authors in the original, watch movies and TV shows in English without subtitles, and sing along to your favorite song.

7. English grammar is quite simple, honestly.

While vocabulary and pronunciation can sometimes be difficult to master, English grammar is much easier than the grammar of other European languages. There are only two grammatical genders, one definite article and one indefinite article each, and cases don't play a role at all... mastering the basics of English is incredibly easy, and it's only a matter of time before you replenish your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.

8. English is your passport to the world of knowledge

Here, in general, everything is simple: most of the content available on the Internet is written in English. Many sites are created in English and then translated into other languages, but some companies don't care about translation at all because so many people speak English. If you know English, you will be able to use information that would otherwise be inaccessible to you!

9. English improves memory and helps keep the brain in good shape.

Another, perhaps somewhat unexpected reason to learn English is a good memory! According to research, being fluent in two languages ​​(and just the process of learning a foreign language) can protect the brain from negative age-related changes. Some types of dementia in people who speak at least two languages ​​are diagnosed up to five years later than those who speak only one language.

10. Just 10 minutes a day is enough to learn English

This is a great reason to learn English. Many studies show that instead of sitting in language classes twice a week, it is much better to study little by little, but regularly. Download the Busuu app and you can learn English online anytime, anywhere, all you need is a couple of minutes to spare. What other reasons do you need to learn English? Study the language for ten minutes every day and soon you will master it fluently.

When traveling, English helps a lot, but I rarely travel. Pictured is Hoover Dam, USA, 2010.

When they say that “without English, nowhere”, they primarily mean looking for work or travel. English helped me myself both at work and on trips abroad, but I believe that knowledge of English gives the most advantages in ordinary, everyday life. You can use English in different ways, I will tell you about my experience, about how I use English.

1. I use the English Internet

4. I read books in the original

I do not read all the books in the original, many are satisfied with the translation. But sometimes there is such a problem with the translation that it is better to read in English. A vivid example is the new translation of "Harry Potter" by the "Swallowtail" publishing house (the very sensational one, where Hagrid's name is Hagrid, and Severus Snape's name is Villainous Snape). Not so long ago I decided to read these books, but it turned out that in printed form there is only a new translation, and in electronic translation there are several and it is not clear which is better. As a result, I had to read in the original - I didn’t regret it a bit, it was an unforgettable experience, which I’ve already mentioned.

Or another case. I wanted to read the book Altered Carbon, which is based on the TV series of the same name. On the second page, I came across a phrase that made me find the original and compare the passages - I could not believe that such a gross mistake in translation could be made. It turned out that you can:

Any teenager who plays computer shooters will tell you that “Fire in the hole” is a standard military phrase, an explosion warning, it is usually translated as “Grenade!” or “Watch out!”, but how could you think of “Shoot the hole”? After such a pearl, I decided that this book should be read in the original.

5. I watch films in the original

I watch films in Russian only if it is not possible to watch in English, for example, in a cinema. In my opinion, films lose a lot when they are dubbed: somewhere the meaning is lost or distorted, jokes disappear somewhere. It is not only a matter of translation, a special problem of dubbing is the need for “text laying”, editing of the translation, in which the text is adjusted to the movements of the lips of the actor. The viewer should have the illusion that the actors speak Russian. Sometimes, for the sake of articulatory coincidence, you have to slightly distort the translation, finding a compromise solution.

There is such an episode in the movie "Deadpool 2". Deadpool talks to Domino, asking what her superpower is. Domino replies that her superpower is luck. What follows is a strange argument:

“Luck is not a superpower.
- No. She.
- Right now, yeah.
- No. She.
- No, ma'am!
- She!

Why does Domino respond so strangely, unnaturally? Anyone in her place would answer, rather, “No, luck is a superpower” or “No, superpower,” but the phrase “No, she” seems far-fetched. The fact is that in this episode Domino is shown in close-up, the movement of her lips is clearly visible, obviously, she says: “Yes, it is”, “Yes, it is”, “It is”, it was simply impossible to fit this articulation better text.

There were no problems with Deadpool, because he was wearing a mask.

Deadpool is the perfect dubbing character

Besides, I just feel sorry for the actors - a significant part of their work is excluded from the film, they are literally deprived of their voice, especially the voice actors. For example, in The Jungle Book in 2016, actors such as Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johansson voiced roles, but there was nothing left of their work in dubbing.

6. I play computer games

I started playing computer games even before I met . There were no translated games at that time. We understood almost nothing, but in most games there was little text (they had not yet been voiced), only games where nothing could be done without understanding the text could not be done.

Such games could be played without English

The games are different now.

A game can have hundreds of hours of dialogue, thousands of pages of script. I play in English for the same reason that I watch films in the original: a lot is lost in translation and dubbing, and the quality of game dubbing is often lower than that of movies. In addition, some games are still not translated, so without knowing English, you can’t play them at all. Of course, I mean games where the plot is important, the story, and not puzzles like “match three stones in a row”.

Life is Strange is an interactive story about teenagers with fantasy and detective elements.

For example, I really liked the game Life is Strange, but for some reason it was not released in Russian, even the subtitles were not translated (except for the pirated translation for PC, I played on PS4). Without knowing English, I would not play it. In the game, you need to carefully listen to the dialogues, read the descriptions of objects, carefully choose the lines, in general, the whole game is built on history, and it is impossible to play without understanding it.

7. I study languages

That's right, knowing English helps you learn English. And not only.

If you need to find the answer to some difficult question in English, I look for it on the English-speaking Internet. This is especially true of the nuances of the use of words, expressions in different situations. If you need to ask if this or that phrase sounds natural, when it is appropriate to use it, how it looks from the point of view of etiquette, you need to ask a native speaker, a person who knows the language and culture from the inside. Here, for example, is the answer of a British teacher to the question how to respond to the greeting “How do you do?”

The answer to the question about English on quora.com

“If someone tells you that, then this person is either learning English without listening to native English speakers, or sarcastically trying to portray an upper class to which he does not belong.

Either way, feel free to answer.

I have often corrected my students using this expression because it does NOT apply to common English. I can imagine only one extremely official circumstance when you will have to respond to such a greeting - a meeting and conversation with a member of the royal family (not a very common case).

But even then I'm not sure what etiquette would need to be answered, maybe just repeat the same phrase in response, shaking hands and smiling / bowing.

Knowledge of English also helps with the study of other languages ​​- at different times I studied French and Spanish a little. Firstly, both of these languages ​​have a lot in common with English (and with each other), which already simplifies the task. Secondly, there are many useful resources for French and Spanish in English, that is, knowledge of English allows you to learn other languages, as it were, not from Russian, but from English. In some ways, it is even easier, because these languages ​​are closer to English than to Russian. Thirdly, if I communicate with native speakers of a language I do not know, we can use English as a common language.

Conclusion

The greatest benefit from knowing English was felt when I worked with foreigners and on trips abroad, but this does not mean that I need English on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, when I started studying English, I was most interested in the fact that it would help to find a job. I was also struck by the very thought that I could talk with foreigners and we would understand each other - it seemed like something fantastic. Later, I realized that I could use English-language sources, which for many do not care that they do not exist. Then I realized that very little is being translated into Russian, especially literature, and what is being translated cannot always be read or watched without tears. Now I understand that without English, life would not stop, but would become much more limited.

Friends! I don't do tutoring right now, but if you need a teacher, I recommend this wonderful site- there are native (and non-native) teachers there 👅 for all occasions and for every pocket 🙂 I myself went through more than 80 lessons with teachers that I found there! I advise you to try it too!

Topic (essay) in English on the topic "English in life / English in the life"

Why is it so important to learn foreign languages?

I think, nowadays it is very important to know foreign languages. Some people learn languages, because they need them for their work, others travel abroad, for the third it`s just a hobby. People want to know languages, to write to their pen-friends or to communicate with people from different countries, to meet more people and make new friends. Also, they want to read books of famous writers in original, to read newspapers and magazines. It helps them to know more about different events, people`s life, customs and traditions.

Nowadays, English has become an international language. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. As for me, I learn English from 7 years of age. This language helps me very much, to speak free with people from all over the world, make new friends and participate in international contests.

I like one proverb of Johann Goethe:" He who does not know foreign languages ​​does not know anything about his own." I speak Ukrainian, Russian, English, a little Italian and Spanish. And I`m very proud of it, because languages-it`s my second life. Also, I would like to learn Germany, French and Serbian, but this year I dedicate myself to learning Italian. You know, dream from my childhood - to be an an interpreter and I`m sure, I get it.

Personally, I think that to know foreign languages ​​today is absolutely necessary for every educated man, for every good specialist. So let`s to learn foreign languages ​​and discover with them many interesting things in our life!

Translation:

I think nowadays it is very important to know foreign languages. Some people learn languages ​​because they need them for work, others travel abroad, and others just as a hobby. People want to know languages, write pen pals or communicate with people from different countries, meet more new people and make friends. In addition, they want to read books by famous writers in the original, read newspapers and magazines. This helps them learn more about different events, people's lives, customs and traditions.

Learning foreign languages ​​broadens our horizons, people become more educated. In my opinion, languages ​​are especially important for those who work in various fields of science and technology, politics. A foreign language helps you learn your native language better. People who know many languages ​​are polyglots. We know some names of polyglots: the German professor Schlimmann, the famous writer Shakespeare, the philosopher Socrates and many others.

Nowadays, English has become an international language. About 300 million people speak it as their mother tongue. As for me, I have been learning English since I was 7 years old. This language helps me a lot, speaking fluently with people from all over the world, making new friends and taking part in international competitions.

I like one proverb of Johann Goethe: "He who does not know foreign languages ​​does not know anything about his native language." I speak Ukrainian, Russian, English, some Italian and Spanish. And I'm very proud of it, because languages ​​are my second life. Also, I would like to learn German, French and Serbian, but this year I dedicate myself to learning Italian. You know, my childhood dream was to be a translator and I'm sure I will be.

Personally, I think that knowing foreign languages ​​today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. Therefore, let's learn foreign languages ​​and discover many interesting things in our life with them!

Kuznetsova Milena

It is believed that now every educated person should know English. But many people do not have enough time and desire to start studying it.

In this article, we look at 29 motivating reasons why you should know English. And it is not just words. We show real success stories of our students.

Proficiency in English can improve and make your life easier in many areas. How? Let's get a look.

English for work and professional development

One of the main reasons for learning English is the opportunity to apply your knowledge in the workplace. Knowledge of English and the ability to use it will help you:

1. Get a better paying job.

Now, when looking for a job, almost every interesting vacancy indicates a requirement - English proficiency. Knowing the language, you can get a job in international a company where the salary level is higher + there are various additional options (gym, insurance, business trips).

It is very important for every professional to keep abreast of the latest trends in their field. Unfortunately, in many areas, Russian sources are much inferior to foreign ones. Today, 85% of all scientific papers are published first in English. Knowing the language, you will be able to read books, articles and blogs of foreign authors that have not yet been translated into Russian, and, perhaps, will not be translated.

3. Find partners and suppliers at international exhibitions.

At international exhibitions, everyone speaks English, despite the fact that participants come from all over the world. It is at such events that contracts are concluded and new partners are found.

4. Participate in international conferences and trainings.

Conferences and trainings are held in many areas: medicine, programming, law, marketing, sales, etc. Knowing the language, you can take part in them and get a lot of useful information that you use in your work.

For example, people very often come to our Easy Speak courses to learn a language for this very reason.

5. Use foreign sites.

You can find a lot of useful information on the Internet in English. New trends, current cases, research appear every day. Very useful for professionals who are trying to apply new technologies in their work.

6. Negotiate with partners on your own.

English is necessary in international business, as all negotiations are conducted in it. Knowing the language, it will be easy for you to establish contacts with partners, because personal contact is always much more pleasant than communication through a third party.

7. Go on business trips to other countries.

Of course, everyone wants to combine business with pleasure: to work and at the same time be able to see different countries. When choosing between several employees, the authorities will make a choice in favor of an employee who is fluent in the language.

English for travel

All people love to travel! What could be better than discovering new countries? What are the benefits of speaking English to travelers? Knowing the language, you will be able to:

8. Travel alone

You do not need to overpay travel agencies. You can easily buy tickets, book a hotel and go on a trip. This is especially true when you like to travel around cities rather than sit in one place. You can decide for yourself how many days and in which city you should stay.

9. You can always settle problems with the hotel.

If you paid for a room with a sea view, and you were settled with a view of the wall of a neighboring building, you can always solve this problem with the help of knowledge of the language. Also, knowledge of the language will come in handy if you need additional hotel services or something in your apartment does not work.

10. Do not overpay for hotels.

Now there are a lot of resources that allow you to contact a person anywhere in the world and rent accommodation from him in advance, which will, of course, be cheaper than a hotel room. Also, many people are willing to shelter travelers for free. For this, too, there are special sites. Registration and communication on them, of course, takes place in English.

When planning a trip, all people study reviews about hotels, cities, etc. Many of them are mostly written in English, especially about places where our compatriots rarely go. With knowledge of the language, you will easily understand whether it is worth booking a hotel room or not.

Need to buy sunblock or juice? No problem. Knowing English, you will not stand in front of a shop window for half an hour, guided by the pictures on the labels.

13. Be able to bargain.

Many sellers, especially in the markets, are willing to give you a significant discount, you just have to ask them. If you speak English, they won't have a chance to say they don't understand you.

14. Learn about culture and traditions from locals, not guides.

Do you want to feel the culture of the locals? Who else but they will be able to tell you where to go and what to see in order to better understand their traditions and values? You just need to ask.

15. Visit museums on your own.

Walking around the city and stumbled upon an interesting museum, you can buy a ticket yourself without overpaying for a Russian-speaking guide. Moreover, not all museums have them. After all, usually all excursions in museums are conducted in English.

16. Navigate the terrain.

You will not be afraid to get lost when you go for a walk. Knowing the language, you can always ask for directions or read signs.

17. Rent a car and not be deceived.

18. Make friends in different countries.

Speaking fluent English, you will meet and communicate with many interesting people. It is much more interesting to talk with your new acquaintances, and not to communicate with gestures.

19. Ability to receive discounts and gifts.

Communicating in a friendly manner with hotel staff, you always have a chance to get a discount or a gift. Naturally, in almost every country, the staff of hotels, restaurants and entertainment establishments speaks English.

English for life

But what if you don't need English for work or travel yet? In this case, you can get the following benefits in your daily life! Knowing English, you will be able to:

20. Get an international education

Many foreign universities are happy to accept people from other countries to study. Moreover, there are both paid and free educational institutions. Knowing the language, you can enter and receive a quality education that will be valued both in Russia and abroad.

21. Go to live abroad

There are people who really want to live in warm countries, but because they don't know English, they just can't do it. By learning the language, you can make your dream come true!

22. Find your love.

Many girls dream of meeting a foreigner and going to live abroad. With knowledge of English, this is much easier to do. Usually in these cases, foreign dating sites are used, where you can find your soul mate.

23. Watch films in the original and understand humor.

You may not always get a good translation. There is only one way to avoid the liberties of translators - to watch movies and TV shows in the original.

24. Don't wait for an episode of your favorite series/movie to be translated.

Sometimes a considerable amount of time passes between the release of a series / film in the English version and its translation into Russian. Why wait when you can watch the original?

25. Sing your favorite songs and understand what you are singing.

Understanding the meaning of songs is very valuable for people who love English songs and have English-speaking idols.

26. Play games and use applications in English.

Have you ever had situations when you downloaded a game / application and disappointedly deleted it just because it was not possible to switch to Russian? Knowing English, you will be able to use any applications that you like.

27. Watch news from English-speaking countries.

If you are interested in politics and events that take place in the world, you will receive information from primary sources.

28. Use programs in English.

Many professional programs do not have Russian language. For example, some video / audio editing programs are completely in English. Knowing the language, you will be able to use the program immediately after installation.

29. Buy goods in foreign online stores

Some goods you can buy in Russia, and some goods only abroad. Also, many goods abroad are cheaper. Knowing the language, you can order them with delivery.

Finally, I want to give you a few facts:

• English is the native language of 500 million people in 12 countries.
• Today there are approximately 1.5 billion people in the world who speak English.
• According to researchers, one in five people can speak English at different levels of proficiency.

I hope this article will be a great motivation for you to start learning English.