Today, the world is witnessing a third industrial revolution, which is the communication revolution. This has a major impact on almost all industries and our work environment. English has become the lingua-franca of the business world in the international trade arena, regardless of geographical, social, political, or religious differences. The English language is one of the most important elements in the 21st century. It has most frequently been confronted by various professionals of organizations and companies. The reality is that finding employment in this competitive world and surviving it is a big challenge. Every authority looks for qualified, talented, smart, and confident employees. For example, if someone applies for a high-level job and when he/she goes for an interview; a qualified, talented, intelligent, and confident employee with fluent English is hired. Why is English, so important in looking for employment? Everyone knows that people deal with others in English, particularly in the world of business, science, and others. So the point here is that it’s very hard to get a good job or a promotion without being able to communicate effectively. Learning English is an insight into the importance and impact of the English language in the corporate world. In addition, efforts have been made to identify the difficulties encountered in communicating in English. Most students or employers do not speak English, even if they have passed the regular or advanced level tests. They are afraid to speak in English. Memorizing and writing a test does not work in English. Most employees fail English due to
- Lack of communication practice
- Inability to conjure the words needed for a response
- Unable to translate words from their native language to English
- Having a small vocabulary
English is the language of intellectual make-up. Learning English develops a person’s knowledge and skill, depending on the living style, surroundings, exposure, and culture of a person than his receptivity which is a natural process.
According to the article “7 Arguments for the Importance of Good English in Business,” it’s been stated that there are seven benefits of knowing English which are
- It shows your willingness to go beyond basic business-standard It will help you to communicate better with your colleagues.
- It will help you to communicate better with your colleagues.
- It is important for delivering presentations and speeches.
- Good pronunciation always makes a good first impression.
- It allows you to travel.
- It gives you an edge in other jobs as well.
- Finally, it allows you to express yourself in a language that everyone understands.
As I have stated before, English is the “lingua franca” of the world due to westernization and globalization. Therefore, mastering English is a survival strategy in the current competitive world. It automatically enhances your chances of progressing through the corporate sector.
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savour their songs.” ~ Nelson Mandela