Why learn another language if everyone in the world speaks English?
With around 7,000 living languages in the world, Dr Claudia Bernardi explores the benefits of learning to speak another tongue.
With around 7,000 living languages in the world, Dr Claudia Bernardi from the School of Languages and Cultures explores the benefits of learning to speak another tongue.
See what she has to say on the "Ask a researcher" page of the Victoria website.
Assuming that everyone in the world speaks English is wrong—only six percent of the global population speak English as a first language.
With those who do speak English as a second language, fluency and comprehension may not be at an advanced level. In Italy, only 34 percent of the population consider themselves fluent in English, 22 percent in Spain, 6.5% in Argentina and less than one percent in mainland China.
The Deputy Director-General of the Confederation of British Industries, Neil Bentley, says “employers are crying out for people with good language skills and an international outlook to help them export.”
This confirms what we already know, employers are looking for people who can speak more than one language.
And besides, with so many beautiful languages, and their cultures, available to us, why would we want to know and understand just one?