Did you know that there are 6500 languages spoken in the world today? So why should we learn English when there are so many other languages? How will learning English benefit us? And why can’t we learn English? Aren’t we taking years of English language training?
In today’s world, the question ”which languages should we learn in addition to English” is asked more than ”how should we learn English.” It is now accepted that we all know English, or that we have to know English. However, learning English is not that simple, especially for those whose native language’s structure is completely different from English.
But it is not difficult either. I think there is nothing we cannot do after working on a planned schedule and knowing how to start and continue!
In this article, I will talk about why we should learn English and why we cannot learn English by talking about my own story as a lifelong English student.
How Did I Learn English?
Like this;
Just kidding lol.
The photo above is from the welcome party at Erasmus, if I remember correctly. I guess it was like, who would hold the balloon for the longest time without dropping it haha, anyway.
I want to tell you briefly about my own story. I can say that my ability to speak English is based on years of experience, haha. First of all, I started learning English in elementary school like many other. I was a little lucky in this regard, as I went to primary school in a private school and our English teacher was from New Zealand. So even if I didn’t understand when I was 6-7 years old, I was exposed to speaking English too much.
When I was 9 years old, I enrolled in our district’s public school. At that age, I was able to understand the difference between private school and public school. Unfortunately, at the 4th grade of my new school, half of the English education I received in private school in 3 years was not given. I wasn’t a hard-working kid anyway, so I slacked easily lol.
In Turkey, both middle school and high school education are based on memorizing stuff and never really learning. For this reason, the process of learning English was no more than memorizing things and forgetting after the exams.
My story with English began to change when I started university. The school I won (we have an exam once a year in Turkey in order to go to University, so we literally ”win” the right to go to one of them) had an English preparatory class. We had English lessons every day for a year. However, something was not fully formed in my mind. So we were just memorizing rather than learning. We were all like ”commandos” when it comes to grammar. But when we had to speak English, grammar was of no use. We didn’t dare and words just couldn’t spill out of our mouth.
However, I thought I knew English, as I was having high marks in English. That’s why I didn’t make any extra effort. Until the day I was going to study in Lithuania with Erasmus student exchange program.
I never forget that day. That day was the day the change started for me. I was going abroad for the first time in my life and I was sure I knew how to speak English! I mean, when I was younger, we were hosting people from United States coming with an exchange program and I was speaking with them somehow (with my broken English). So I though that I could communicate with people in Lithuania too without any issues.
But it wasn’t the way I imagined, guys. It didn’t work out from day one. My plane had a stopover in Latvia. After landing in Latvia, I had to find my flight to Lithuania within half an hour. I did not have much airport experience at that time and it seemed that I had missed the signs so I got lost in the tiny Latvia airport.
Then of course I thought I’d ask someone. All I had to ask was “Look, this is my ticket, I’m going to Lithuania. Where’s the plane?”
I couldn’t ask lol.
I mean I couldn’t, I stuttered, blushed, hummed and hawed, but couldn’t speak. Of course, the most advanced English grammar rules, phrases etc. are crossing my mind, but what good does that do me since I cannot speak.
I can’t remember the time between that moment and the moment I found the plane. I guess my brain erased that moment as I was quite embarrassed haha. Later when I arrived in Lithuania, my self-confidence was restored, thanks to Lithuanians’ poor English skills :p But I remember speaking pretty broken for the first few months.
What happened next? After a few months, I started speaking English enough to make presentations in English classes and have an Irish boyfriend haha.
Anyway, what do you think should be taken from this story? For me, speaking. Call it classic or cliché.
But S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G
Why Should We Learn English?
Because English is the common language of humanity.
Because English is the mother tongue of 54 countries.
Because ”one language, one person; two languages, two persons” as a Turkish proverb says!
Because English can open incredible doors for you. It can open a tiny and a simple door; like watching a movie without subtitles that would make you feel great, or help you have your dream job, or even to live in your dream country. I mean imagine, you can DM Adriana Lima directly and you might end up getting an answer which you would understand without translating it. Wouldn’t that be cool? :p
Let me summarize;
- You may miss job opportunities that are suitable for you just because you have insufficient English language skills. By speaking English, you can get promoted in your current job, your salary may increase or you can even find a better job. You can work with international companies and start working abroad.
- You can study in English in any country and any subject you want. You can take advantage of online courses in English. In these days where even Harvard University provides online education and we can reach these education with a very small amount, would you not be missing a lot by not knowing English?
- Knowing English is not just about work or education. I think it means self-confidence the most! You can make friends with people of all nations and exchange information and ideas with people of all cultures! You can make friends with foreigners living in your own country. Believe me, the way you see the world changes a lot. In this way, you can be both more cultured and more confident.
- Today, you can read the books translated into your language from almost any language. However, there are still too many books, too many sources that have not been translated into your language. Consider the vastness of the information you can access.
- Do you ever say “I actually want to go on a vacation abroad but I don’t know their language, how can I communicate”? I’m sure you spend big bucks for those expensive holiday tour packages just because you don’t speak the language. Maybe you go with your English speaking friends, but you are constantly asking your friends to translate you. Believe me, the freedom of being able to go anywhere in the world on your own, to be able to communicate with everyone is priceless.
Why Can’t We Learn English?
- Because we receive grammar-based education throughout our lives. I think the biggest issue derives from this. Just think about your parents. They keep saying “mamma, papa” to hear your first word when you are a baby, they try to get you talking. Before you can say ”mamma” or ”daddy”, imagine they say ”come on my baby, say ‘pronoun’, ‘prooo-nouun’, what about perfect tense, have + verb3, right? say it” lol
- Of course not only this. I think this situation suits our book as well. Learning by memorizing prevents us from leaving our comfort zone. Speaking is an activity that takes courage, challenges people and we have to try again and again even if we make mistakes all the time. We know we shouldn’t give up but the feeling of failure makes us give up sooner or later.
- I hear comments like ” I can’t learn. I tried but it didn’t work.” all the time. In order to persuade the woman or man we love, we are running after them for months without giving up. But when it comes to dedicating our 1 hour per day to English, to OURSELVES, we are lazy. Let’s choose these boys and girls from other nationalities so that we can learn languages in the meantime haha.
- Working without a plan is also one of the most important obstacles to learning. It’s much better to devote to English even if it’s just 1 hour a day, than studying 8 hours a day for a week and not opening the book for months. Believe me, even 30 minutes a day can change a lot in language learning journey.
- We should mention the time factor as well of course. Especially in countries where there is chaos and hustle all the time, it is very difficult for a person to create time for herself/himself. As a person who worked 6 days a week while living in Istanbul, I know very well how difficult it is to spend time for education. But believe me, if you set goals and work planned, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
If you don’t know where to start and how to learn English, this post is for you: Where to Start Learning English?
For other articles about learning English, read: English
If you want to have a look at other languages, check out here: Language
What do you think about it? Let’s meet in the comments!
