In the world today everything is becoming global, in this globalization the language of choice is English. In space there are thousands of satellites orbiting the world, which are sending information in English to computers, television, radio, and cell phones. With this information we are able to communicate worldwide in English. Powered by telecommunications and the internet we are banking world wide in minutes, buying and selling stocks, importing all of the products we need, and tracking the weather. When you are traveling, English becomes your best friend. Of the seven continents, five of them have at least one English speaking country within them.

In many of the Pacific and Caribbean islands English is the language of choice. While traveling you may have to use the “ TOILET,” this word is used worldwide. When you get off the airplane English signs are there to direct you to your next flight or baggage. Then, when you go to rent a car or take a taxi to your hotel, English makes the task easier. When checking into your hotel, rates are often in the native language and English. When you leave the hotel to go shopping and on to dinner, the menu at the restaurant would be in the native language. If there is a second language it would be English.

I would like to tell you about my personal experience of the English language. I traveled to Vietnam last year and stayed for ninety days. I stayed in Ho Chi Minh City and I toured the city from the back of a motorcycle. While riding around I saw sign after sign that said English is the way to success. Vietnam has seventy million plus people, 70% are under thirty, and most want to learn English. There are hundreds of English Language Schools in Vietnam today. I went to three of the schools with a young teacher to see for myself. The students were as young as ten and as old as fifty, very polite and eager to learn. As I walked down the streets, teenage boys and girls would stop and talk to me in English. I had little boys and girls walking with their mother stop and say hello how are you. I had one mother ask me if I could go to her house on Sundays to talk English with her son who was studying English. When I got back to California, I went online to start a TESOL English certification course so I could go back to Vietnam to teach. After starting my course I had to go online and send emails. I then went on the internet and found many people from different countries that used English when they were online.

I agree with the people that say thirty percent of the internet users communicate through English, and that most business people from different countries have to use English in dealing with their English speaking customers and suppliers. From my point of view, English has become the global language. English speaking countries have become world powers in business and policies therefore they have an economic and political advantage over anyone who struggles to express themselves in the language.

C. Barstow (economist)

World Internet Usage

John Jacino