Imagine this: You're at a busy market in London, ready with your translation app, trying to get a good price for a beautiful antique chair. You type in your offer, but the seller, amused, shakes his head. Nearby, a local man laughs and explains that your app translated "antique" into a word for "old and useless" rather than "vintage and valuable."
This humorous mix-up, while innocent, highlights the nuances that technology sometimes misses.
So, why, in this age where technology seems to have all the answers, is learning English—or any language—still so valuable? Here are a few reasons, (backed by insights from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the international standard for describing language ability.
Cultural Awareness English, like any language, opens doors to new cultures. But it’s not just the words that bring the conversation to life. It’s the gestures, humour, and colourful expressions that add depth, flavour, and authenticity to your communication. Technology might translate words, but the essence of cultural expressions is often lost in translation. So, why are these subtleties crucial? They transform you from a mere speaker to a storyteller, a listener, and a friend in the English-speaking world. They're your key to not just being understood, but to truly belonging.
Deep Connections Technology helps with basic exchanges, but for deep, meaningful conversations, especially on abstract or complex topics, a human touch is irreplaceable. Sharing stories, debating ideas, and expressing emotions is a uniquely human experience that technology just can't replicate. It's about that sparkle in someone's eye when they talk about their passion, the warmth in their voice when they share a personal story, or the intensity of a lively debate on a topic close to their hearts. Anyone who has heard me speak about my love of teaching (or my beloved football team) knows exactly how true this is! The goal isn't to achieve perfect grammar or pronunciation but to share stories, and convey emotions that cross language barriers. While translation apps can be a useful tool, if we rely on them, they can distance us from the person we are trying to communicate with, exactly the opposite effect than the one we want! Use technology wisely. Don't hide behind a screen. Stay human - be willing to engage authentically and trust that you can express your thoughts so that others can understand you. Be yourself, make mistakes, and embrace the rich, messy, and beautiful process of language learning.
Professional Growth Are you looking at the global job market? Well, having English in your skill set is like holding a golden ticket. Picture this: you're confidently contributing to meetings, wowing colleagues with your presentations, and writing reports that make people take notice—all in English. It's these moments that set you apart and open the doors to some pretty incredible international jobs, the kind that no gadget or app can get for you. It's all about connecting, sharing, and making an impact, and that's where the real magic happens.
Personal Satisfaction The joy of reading a classic English novel, enjoying a Hollywood movie without subtitles, or understanding the lyrics of your favourite English song provides a sense of achievement that goes beyond practical reasons for learning a language. These pleasures, small as they may seem, enrich our lives and expand our horizons. Take Mila, for example, one of our students here at Ford Learning. Mila has always dreamed of joining a book club, but not just any book club; one where she could dive into English novels, discuss, and debate to her heart's content. So, when we launched the Ford Learning book club, it felt like fate, especially since the book on our list was one her friend had been raving about. Mila was so captivated by the story that she had to hold herself back from speeding through to the end! She was so hooked that even while on holiday, Mila joined our book club online. When her family asked what she was doing, she grinned and said, "I'm sorry, I've got my book club." How amazing is that? Mila's journey with us isn't just about learning English; it's about living it, loving it, and letting it open up new worlds, one page at a time.
Educational Access Discovering English opens up a whole new world, doesn't it? Suddenly, it's like you've got VIP access to this endless library of knowledge—articles, courses, resources—that might not even exist in your language. It's like having a secret university for learning and personal development. Of the world's top ten leading universities, all ten require students to study in English. Globally, English is key to academic collaboration, allowing for shared research, events, and communications. While this may change in the future, for now, having English on your CV opens up the choice of universities to which you can apply. Did you know that nearly 52% of all web pages are written in English? Knowledge of English allows you to fully tap into this powerful resource.
In some sectors, English is so dominant that using it is a must if you want to be taken seriously.
In some countries subjects like science are only taught in English, making it difficult for students to access these fields without a good level of academic English.
As highlighted in a blog post on the Royal Society of Chemistry's website, interestingly titled 'Publish in English or perish', more than 95% of all scientific journals are published in English.
Rightly or wrongly, writing in English is considered more prestigious, and you're less likely to get work published in another language.
It's not only written research that is difficult to access without knowledge of English. One study into Columbian researchers in biological sciences showed that one-third of doctoral students chose not to attend international conferences because of the mandatory use of English in presentations.
To sum up, while translation technology is a fantastic tool for navigating language barriers, the journey of learning English offers unique benefits. It opens a world of cultural insights, deeper human connections, professional opportunities, and personal fulfillment that technology alone cannot replicate.
Embrace the journey of learning, with all its challenges and rewards. Through each mistake, miscommunication, and moment of embarrassment, we don't just acquire language skills; we gain stories, friendships, and a deeper understanding of the global community.
Your journey with English is more than just acquiring a skill; it's about unlocking a world of possibilities, one conversation, one story, and one connection at a time.
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Your Author: Zoe Ford
Zoe is a CELTA-qualified EFL teacher and Ex-Director of Studies at a prestigious private language school in London. She has been teaching English to adults for over 10 years and has helped hundreds of students to reach their learning goals.
When Zoe isn't teaching she loves to cook, to travel, and to share her passion for learning with others.
