When thinking on the question “Why is it important to learn English?”, consider academic, business, and communication views.
By Mak Kum Shi
For most of us, learning English is important. However, have you considered why it is important to learn English? Let’s explore the reasons behind the importance of learning English from ABC (academic, business, and communication) ideas.
Achieving academic excellence
Most of us had studied English when we were young. For some of us, we learned English as our primary language. Our parents have spoken English to us since the time we were young. When we were in school, our teachers and friends spoke to us in English. In private schools and Singapore public schools, we learned English in an English-speaking environment. In short, an English language learning environment enables us to gain strong skills in English.
For others, they learned their native languages, such as Malay, Mandarin, or Hindi, as their main language. Their parents have spoken to them in their native languages since the time they were young. Similarly, their teachers and friends spoke to them in their native languages. In Malaysian public schools, the main teaching language is in Malay. In vernacular schools, the main teaching language is in native languages. However, these schools have Malay and English subjects. This teaching method helps students to learn many languages.
Scoring in English is important
For most of us, when we were young, English was an important subject because it is tested in exams! In primary school exams, they can come in various names, such as UPSR, PSLE, or A2 Key for Schools. For middle school exams, they come in various forms, such as GCE-O Levels, GCE-A Levels, SPM, STPM, UEC, and SUEC exams. However, English doesn’t exist alone. It is also the main teaching language for other subjects, such as Mathematics and Science.
As students need good results in English to secure a place in a good school or university, it is not a surprise that many of us would get nervous over our exam results! Therefore, it is important to study English so that we can get learn other subjects and get good results in our exams! However, learning English is not only important for our studies. English is important to adults. Success in our careers depends on it.
Achieving success in business
There are a few things that businesses need to survive and grow: High revenue, cash flow, and profit. Due to the nature of their studies, many business leaders and their employees would use their native languages when they are performing business activities. We use native languages to develop business with native groups of people.
However, to develop business with different groups, we need a common language. In this case, we use English to develop business with different groups as it is the global language of business. In this feature, we will explore the reasons in learning English for various parties, such as business owners, employees, and human resource experts.
Why is it important for business owners to study English? As business owners, it is important for them to make more sales, improve cash flow, and increase profit. Using English will enable business owners to expand their business market areas, which includes English language users. In addition, being skilled in English will enable business owners to gain new ideas and adopt new tech to save costs, scale their businesses, and raise sales.
Employees need English for productivity
Employees need to study English, not just to improve their language skills, but also to use it to pick up new skills that will contribute to their productivity. With more experience and better skills, in addition to meeting their job targets, they can justify salary increases and job promotions. Global companies also conduct English tests on their employees. Good skills in English contributes toward promotions, while poor skills in English places their jobs at risk. Preparing for IELTS exams and getting good results through IELTS Certification is a good way of proving good English skills to employers.
Therefore, the study of English matters to human resource experts, because skill in language is a very important factor in deciding if employees can meet their Key Performance Index (KPIs) targets. Poor results affects business profits and growth. In contrast, raising skills can improve employee satisfaction, results, and retain talent.
Learn English for communications
English skills also play a helpful in communications. We live in exciting times when messages can come in various forms, such as text, pictures, audio, and video. As we express ourselves and our ideas, it is important that we give extended explanations and allow other people to understand our points. In addition to explaining our points, we need to provide support for the ideas that we express. Facts and examples provide proof.
Serving as an example of English in communications, this article has form, with three main points, a beginning, an end, a topic, and a main idea. Each of the main points are explained, with facts and examples as proof. In addition to text, pictures that were relevant to the presented points were used to improve the design of the article. Language and style were considered when writing the article. Various things that were thought of include grammar rules (tenses and countable nouns), vocabulary, style (active voice), spelling, and general knowledge. Therefore, it is good to study English, so that we can share our ideas and be easily understood when we communicate with other people.
In conclusion, it is important for us to learn English, because it can help us to achieve success in our academic studies, in business, and in communications. Interested to improve your English skills to develop yourself and your career? Consider improving your language skills with our English Course. Alternatively, consider our English Communication Course to improve your communication skills!