The Teaching Demand Worldwide
English is considered the global language for business and technology. It is the most studied second language in the world (about 418 million people study English!). Here are some of the main universal motivations for learning English:
Business
English is the leading language of commerce, politics and technology in the new millennium. Business people all over the world are under pressure to learn to communicate in English.
"In today's business world, English is no longer viewed as a foreign language - it is the global means of communication: the language of communication wherever a deal is being done internationally. Officially, English now has a special status in more than 75 countries, with a total population of over 2 billion speakers." Transworld Education
Internet
Both personal and professional pursuits through the Internet are strengthening desires to learn English.
"The Web remains predominantly an English speaking continent. As many as 73 percent of the sites have material predominantly written in the English language... the language of Shakespeare has become the lingua franca of the Web." www.pandia.com
Academics
Many ESL students are motivated by a desire to exceed academically either at home or in English-speaking countries.
"English language testing has experienced unprecedented growth around the world with the number of candidates sitting for the renowned International English Language Testing System (IELTS) almost doubling in the last two years." www.idp.com
Travel
Global Travel no longer needs to be accompanied by so many communication barriers. Not only do travellers need English, so do all those working in the travel industry worldwide.
Media
English clearly dominates global film, television and radio. Humour, slang, and colloquialisms, are all other connections between language and culture.
