The learner's guide to why you need to learn English in today’s world
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English has become, undeniably and indisputably, the language of the modern world. Spoken at a native level by hundreds of millions of people around the world and at varying levels of proficiency by billions more, it’s been variously described as a universal tongue, the world’s preeminent second language, and ‘hyper central’ – as in bringing together the global language system.
In short, it’s the unrivalled lingua franca, which is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a shared language of communication used between people whose main languages are different. As the world becomes increasingly globalised and digitalised, English’s claim to these titles has only grown stronger.
It’s the number one business language in the world, accounting for global commerce worth over a fifth of global GDP. In Asia, one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions and home to hundreds if not thousands of local languages and dialects, English has become the language of the regional marketplace. In fact, English is the official language of the ASEAN bloc of countries, which includes major economies like Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
It’s little wonder then that proficiency in the language is regarded as an indispensable part of one’s professional skill set, capable of enhancing employability and unlocking a world of career growth opportunities, as well as paving the way for personal growth.
Millions of people across Asia now recognise this fact and are taking the plunge to learn the language and fulfill their aim to become global citizens. However, the path forward is not always clear, and learners can benefit from all the guidance they can get in order to make the most of their quest for proper English language education.
Several factors have contributed to the growing importance of the English language and the evolution of the instruction process in Asia. Starting from the top down, governments across the region are increasingly emphasising the value of English for inter-regional development while rapid globalisation and advances in technology are bringing major changes to the job market.
This means that new graduates, as well as experienced professionals, need to be nimble and proactive in learning new skills to replace obsolete ones, notes Kayo Taguchi, ELT Portfolio Manager, Pearson Asia.
One such skill is indeed the ability to communicate effectively in English. And research shows a positive relationship between investing in English-language education and the upward trajectory of an individual’s career graph, including in Asia.
This trend is exemplified by the Philippines’ formidable business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. According to Monette Fetalvero, Manager, Career Consultants Network and BADA Education Philippines, business communication and English language skills have become synonymous in the country, thanks to the growth of the BPO industry.
Lorraine Loquisan, Chief Operations Officer, Enrich, agrees, noting that the industry – which is among the largest employers in the country and a major economic growth driver that has managed to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic better than most other sectors – has been a catalyst in transforming English language instruction in the country’s schools into a highly evolved system that assigns equal importance to read, write and speak to produce well-rounded, effective communicators who can make the most of these skills in a professional setting.
BPOs in the Philippines employ over a million people and because a significant bulk of their client base is in English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, these companies place a premium on employees with high English-language proficiency.
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Indeed, the ability to speak the language has gone from being an advantage to a necessary qualification for getting a job, Loquisan notes. This is also true of markets like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where the ability to speak English has been identified by companies as essential to being employable and move up the ranks.
At the same time, it’s not just about enhancing employability. English language skills can do so much more, the experts point out, noting its ability to help you grow as an individual. As Jarrad Merlo, Co-founder, E2Language, notes: “Learning English is important to advance your career, but it’s more than just that. It allows you to watch films, read literature, surf the internet, travel to different countries, and expand life experiences beyond one’s own culture.”
Additionally, several governments across Southeast Asia recognise English as one of their official languages. Unsurprisingly, most multinational corporations operating in the region require their employees to be fluent in the language.
As Simon Young, Pearson Asia’s BTEC Portfolio Manager, highlights: “English has become a key skill for communicating in business in any role. So, in countries such as [those in Southeast Asia] where you might see a strong local workforce, the interaction with other divisions does require a strong ability to communicate in English. English has become the global communication medium.”
English is also essential to master the top transferable skills of the 21st century – teamwork and collaboration, negotiation skills, and digital literacy, to name a few – that have come to be seen as necessary to help individuals become more attractive and valuable to employers and climb up the ranks in a modern, fast-evolving workplace.
Consider teamwork and collaboration — those who are fluent in English can become valued members of a global team thanks to their ability to communicate well with colleagues and managers, and negotiate effectively with clients and other stakeholders. These skills give you a natural edge over others less adept in the language when being considered for a new job or promotion.
Other transferable skills, such as digital literacy and data analytics, also require the knowledge of English, which is the mostly commonly used language on the internet — where most of this information resides.
The benefits of learning a new language go beyond career progression and professional development — it is good for your brain and makes you a sharper learner overall. Further, the ability to communicate in what’s become the world’s go-to language for business and most social situations, including online interactions, can indeed do wonders for an individual’s confidence, which, in turn, can positively influence your workplace performance.
Regardless of the type of English-language skill that you are looking to pick up, there are several tools that learners across Southeast Asia can access, such as Pearson's MyEnglishLab, which enhances the learning experience with tech-enabled tools and immersive content; personalised teaching apps such as Pearson Online English; and the Pearson Test of English, a comprehensive assessment program that helps learners showcase their language proficiency to potential employers.
The ability to speak a language, any language, is a key skill and a huge asset in today’s new world of work. It opens a whole new world of possibilities for personal development, provides a window into new cultures, and acts as a lever with which to enhance your career graph and achieve your professional aspirations.
As the experts note, learning English is indeed a lifelong experience and journey. And we’re confident that you will discover for yourself the truth in this observation, and the joys of the journey, as you learn new words to add to your ever-expanding vocabulary, pick up new phrases and idioms, and come to recognise the various nuances as native speakers do, as you continue to push the limits of your understanding of the English language.