The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English
Sarah White, co-founder of Little Bridge, explains the top 5 reasons your child needs to learn English!
Your child can learn English quickly and effectively with Little Bridge. Click here to get started today, for free!
Helping your child learn English as a second language could be one of the best decisions that you ever make. Being fluent in English can help them in many ways, whether they are planning to travel, study in an English-speaking country, emigrate, or improve their career prospects.
An estimated 1.5 billion people across the globe are currently learning English.
Here’s why your child should be one of them!
The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English, #1: Job opportunities
People who can speak English are highly sought after by companies of many types, including international companies. When seeking work, proficiency and confidence in speaking and understanding English can put you at a distinct advantage.
While English proficiency can be advantageous in many industries, it is essential in particular sectors.
- English is the international language of science. An estimated 98% of all scientific publications appear in English.
- Aviation is a global industry, and proficiency in English is essential for all pilots and air traffic controllers. English is an essential skill for both pilots and air traffic control to avoid delays, and potentially, accidents.
- As an international language, English is an essential skill for those working in the tourism industry
- English and French are the two main languages of both the UN and the EU. Anyone considering a career in diplomacy must be confident with their English skills.
- 8/10 of the top financial centres around the world have English as a primary or official language. One of the two exceptions, Zurich, is in Switzerland, where over 60% of the population speak English.
The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English, #2: The internet
The English language has always dominated the internet. It’s estimated that over 55% of the content available online today is in English. However, just 5% of the world speaks English as a native language.
A study suggests that over 70% of consumers spend all or most of their time on websites in their native language. This means that a large percentage of non-English speakers spend the majority of their time on a small fraction of the internet!
A third of videos on YouTube are in English, and English language videos receive around 4x more views than videos in other languages.
Learning English opens up opportunities to engage with more content online
The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English, #3: Immigration
Want to live abroad? English is recognized as an official language in over 60 countries, as well as 27 non-sovereign entities. In most English speaking countries, to become a citizen, you must pass an English test.
Looking to escape to the sunshine? There are 10 Caribbean countries with English as an official language, including Jamaica and Barbados.
23 countries in Africa, 5 countries in Asia and 12 countries in Oceania also have English as an official language.
In addition, there are 16 countries where English is a de facto language, and 30 non-sovereign entities where English is a de jure or de facto language.
Even if you don’t plan to move abroad, you will benefit from speaking English when visiting on vacation!
The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English, #4: Better pay
Speaking a second language can add between 10% and 15% to your wage. In particular, job seekers with exceptional English compared to their country’s level earned 30-50% percent higher salaries. In 60 countries / territories surveyed, a rise in English proficiency was connected with a rise in per capita income.
‘English is more than a commodity. It has the power to transform nations’
Dr. Surin Pitsuwan
Thai politician and former Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The top 5 reasons your child needs learn English, #5: Making friends!
Perhaps the best, and most immediate reason for your child to learn English; making friends!
Speaking English opens up a global online community, enabling your child to make friends beyond borders. Connecting with children from around the world is like a ‘window on the world’, allowing children to learn about other cultures and ways of life, directly from their peers.
Of course, it’s essential to provide a safe online environment for children to connect with each other. At Little Bridge, children can make friends with other children around the world, and communicate with them using a shared language, English!
Every message in our community is moderated, ensuring our platform keeps children safe at all times.
Summary
Learning English is a key skill that both opens opportunities and widens horizons for children. In an increasingly globalised world, knowing the international language of English is becoming ever more important.
Finding the right motivation for your child is essential to encourage them to learn English. Why not share this list with your child to see what resonates with them most?
If you’d like your child to join the Little Bridge community, you can do so here, for free!
Want your child to learn English quickly and effectively? Find out the secret to helping your child learn English in this blog.
