English is the first choice of second language studens

Increasingly, over the past fifteen to twenty years, greater numbers of people have been studying English. What causes people to study English? Why does it continue to be the first-choice of most second language students around the world? The reasons, of course, vary from person to person, and it is important to note that a reason why a person studies is no more important or valid than a different reason that motivates another person to study English. This essay will examine some of these causes along with some of the effects of English study.

Firstly, the fact that greater numbers of students are electing to study English will inevitably lead to a better educated generation of learners. More and more of the current generation of students are choosing to go outside of only learning their own language and ‘traditional’ subjects in their home countries by studying abroad, firstly in English language courses, then in tertiary courses conducted in English. The number of international students in Australia, for example, has risen from around 90,000 in 1994 to over 300,000 only ten years later. And this is not just happening in English-speaking countries. Places like Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, for example, have all experienced increases in students coming to study English language courses and tertiary programs in English.

Another cause of why people study English is for extrinsic reasons. A person who has an extrinsic motivation, wants to achieve something else other than language improvement. Students who are extrinsically motivated believe that study will lead to positive results in other parts of their lives, such as a better salary, a better job or a place at university, for example. Extrinsically motivated students may also have been told to study by someone else, for instance, their parents or the company they work for. Some students are told they must study English in order to progress in a company, or in order to gain promotion. Study, then, does not become a choice, it becomes a necessity, something they feel they have to do.

Finally, some students choose to study English for another reason; it is the international language. This reason may be either intrinsic or extrinsic, and it is perhaps the most fundamental cause of why students choose to study English. Students are not necessarily choosing English; they are choosing the international language which, right now, happens to be English. Fifty years ago it would have been French, and in fifty years time it may be Mandarin. However, as more students choose to study English because it is the international language, it further strengthens the position of English as the international language. People make this choice because it is the language of business, the Internet, of sports and entertainment, of travel and of global politics. It makes sense to become proficient in a language you may use in so many ways.

These causes have led to ever-increasing numbers of students deciding to take English language courses. Let us now look at some of the effects of this choice to study English.

Firstly, the fact that greater numbers of students are electing to study English will inevitably lead to a better educated generation of learners. More and more of the current generation of students are choosing to go outside of only learning their own language and ‘traditional’ subjects in their home countries by studying abroad, firstly in English language courses, then in tertiary courses conducted in English. The number of international students in Australia, for example, has risen from around 90,000 in 1994 to over 300,000 only ten years later. And this is not just happening in English-speaking countries. Places like Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, for example, have all experienced increases in students coming to study English language courses and tertiary programs in English.

Secondly, there is the value in the increased communication potential that learners acquire. The ability of people from non-English speaking backgrounds to communicate more clearly with other people in English is clearly improved by the number of people now learning the language. In other words, the more people who learn English, the better we will be able to communicate around the world. This can lead to increased cultural understanding which can only be positive.

Finally, another effect of the increasing numbers of students choosing English can be seen in the industry of English itself. As more and more students study both at home and abroad, the whole education industry has continued to grow. Both English language centres and tertiary courses accepting international enrolments have seen a huge growth in numbers in the last fifteen years. In Australia, the growth in international student numbers has resulted in a billion-dollar industry. It is one of the country's most important exports.

In conclusion, it is clear that there are a range of reasons why people choose to study English. The effects of this are still being felt around the world as English continues to grow in importance and the number of speakers continues to rise.