English is often described as “the language of opportunity”, and by the time you get to the end of this article, you’ll certainly concur. Whether you want to take English as Second Language (ESL) or want to study English as a Foreign Language (EFL), studying the subject at Rifkins College-Mombasa will be one of the most rewarding decisions you could ever make.
Also, if you have to study an extra language as part of a course, then choose English. Why?
Let’s find out…
1. English is one of the most widely spoken languages
Although it comes second to Mandarin (Chinese) in terms of the total number of speakers, English is the language that you will find handy as it is the most widely spoken language in more countries than any other language. Therefore, your efforts at studying it will not be in vain. Apart form the UK, a significant 60 nations out of the 196 have English as the official language and more have it as one of the national languages. English is spoken in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Besides, it the language of international relations and diplomacy. It’s the language of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), NATO, the European Free Trade Association, and the Commonwealth. What’s more, English is the commonly adopted second language of people in many more countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Holland. It is approximated that there are 1.5 billion English speakers and a billion more learning the language.
Wouldn’t you want to be part of this international community?
- English will open up more opportunities for you
Even in countries where English is not an official language, it is often used as a lingua franca. Being an effective English speaker will enable you interact freely in numerous states and opens up opportunities for you in terms of the nations where you would like to work or visit! Also, careers that involve lots of travel or international exposure as in the case of the airline, tourism and film industries, English is their official language, and many employers in these sectors will require evidence of a certain level of proficiency in English before they consider employing you.
- English will make you more marketable to employers
English has been referred to as “the language of business”, and it’s not hard to see why. If you have ambitions to become an international businessperson, it’s essential that you’re able to speak English fluently; business conducted internationally is done in English more often than not. Even if you’re not thinking of living and working abroad, that doesn’t mean you won’t find English a helpful language to put on your CV. There may well be plenty of English-speaking multinational corporations withinKenya. What’s more, English skills are just as desirable to employers in your own country and language as they are to employers in English-speaking countries.
- English is the language of some of the world’s greatest literature
Talk of classical writings like the works of Shakespeare. Many literature materials were originally written in English and although translations exist, they do not do them much justice. Reading the books in their original English version presents an opportunity to further understand the language and enjoyment while at it. Some of the classical literature by renowned authors include classics as Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, our very own Ngugi wa Thiong’os A Grain of Wheat and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apartand A Man of the People to mention a few.
- English offers a fantastic intellectual challenge!
Do you enjoy solving mysteries and challenges? Learn English.
English is undisputedly one of the harder languages to learn. That is the case given the diverse grammar rules and numerous exceptions to the rules. It takes dedication and perseverance for one to reach the proficiency level. That reality coupled with the exposure to a myriad of cultures as you explore English speaking countries makes learning English a thrilling encounter for anyone one up for a challenge.
By now you must be convinced that learning English would surely be beneficial. Join Rifkins College-Mombasa and learn from some of the best masters of the Queen’s language.