Importance of English Language Essay

Importance of English Language Essay – 1100 Words

English has been facing bitter opposition and sharp criticism since the exit of the British rulers from this territory. The government and the masses both were of the opinion that English should cease to dominate our education system, culture, and civilization. But the diversity of languages and dialects is so immense in Pakistan that it was extremely difficult to choose a common national language.

Moreover, the roots of the English language were so deep and the advantages so great that all the efforts to replace this language by Urdu were ultimately doomed to failure today, the great demand for admission in English medium schools throughout the country is an obvious testimony to the attraction and importance of the English language.

“A man who is ignorant of foreign language is ignorant of his own language.” Goethe

 

English as a National Language

“I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to any horse.” Emperor Charles V

[the_ad id=”17141″]The desire to preserve and promote one’s mother tongue is quite natural. Being a nationalistic approach, it is highly appreciable, but in a fast-changing world of today, it is not a sufficient condition for economic growth and overall national development. No significant aspect of human efforts, be it science or technology, trade or industry, is today confined to national boundaries. The latest and the most advanced discoveries and inventions in science and technology are being made in the universities of Europe and America, and we all know that their mother tongue is English.

No doubt, French, German, Russian and Japanese languages are also producing high-quality scientific literature, but it can not equal the quality and quantity of work done by the scientists whose mother tongue is English.

One of the reasons for the worldwide spread of English has been the growth and expansion of the English trade in the 18 and 19 century. English merchants set up their sales offices and factories in different parts of the world. People in other countries had to learn English to trade with the English. In the world of today, a country’s performance in foreign trade has become the greatest factor in its prosperity. English also came to our aid in our commercial transactions throughout the globe. English has become the language of the latest business management in the world. There is no denying that now proficiency in English can bring laurels to our business managers.

“Languages are the archives of history.” Ralph Waldo, The Poet

Our national languages can be easily adopted as a medium of instructions at the school level. But we should continue our technical education and higher education in English medium. Our students will have easier and wider access to worldwide literature and research findings in the English language. With the internet, worldwide access has come to our doorsteps. Time has come to promote English to serve our educational interests as also the commercial and cultural interests.

Importance of English Literature

“Fair words cost nothing.” John Gay. V

[the_ad id=”17142″]A language attracts people because of its individual wealth of literature and knowledge. And the English language is so rich in literature that it can not be surpassed by any other language of the world. We may hate the Britishers for their despotic and immoral behavior with the Muslims before partition, but we do love Shakespeare for his immense contribution to literature and his great love for humanity.

Most of our Urdu writers and poets got inspiration and various new views and themes from English literature and the practice are still going on. Had there not been English literature, Urdu literature would never have been so rich and interesting. If somebody wants to appreciate the work of the great writers and poets of the world like Milton, Homer, Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Huxley, Russell, and Bernard Shaw, etc, he will have to learn the English language first. In the same way, if the Muslim leaders of British India had not got an education in foreign universities, we would never have been able to get an independent homeland. We would have been the slaves of the Hindus. So the knowledge of English gave us freedom, broadened our horizon and cultivated in us an international outlook. This is perhaps the greatest advantage we have so far gained from the knowledge of the English language.

“Language is the dress of thought.” Samuel Johnson

There are no two opinions about the fact that the English language is our window to the world. It makes available to us the best that is thought and done in the world. Human beings are constantly making efforts to improve human destiny. We can also learn from others experience. We can also propagate our theories among international audience and readers. So the English language can be used as-tool to establish our viewpoint.

Benefits of English Language Learning

“Words are mere sound and means describing heavenly light.” Goethe, “Faust”

Rather, we can make use of English to promote our worldview and spiritual heritage throughout the globe. We are very well aware of the fact that only the best and the fittest survive in the struggle among ideas as among the living beings. It will be foolish to abandon this tool under some ill-advised politics or misconceived nationalism.[the_ad id=”17150″]

Our BAs MAs, M.Scs and MBAs often fall short of international standards due to their poor knowledge of the English language. They have to qualify in Toffle or entrance courses in English for foreign studies and scholarships. Many of the political leaders, religious scholars, and bureaucrats who denounce English, send their own children and grandchildren to convent schools and English medium schools. These people do know that the knowledge of English means high market value and social prestige. So we must make the best use of English to develop ourselves culturally and materially so that we may compete with the best in the world of mind and matter.

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, II

All the facts of history and developments in present-day Pakistan underline the continued importance of learning English in addition to our own language. Good knowledge of English is surely indispensable for the latest advancement and international lobbying. Briefly, if we want to keep the wheels of our progress going and promote our cultural identity in the world, we must continue to learn English without fail. Should we forego it simply because it happens to be the language of the people who once ruled the Muslims in multinational India.

Importance of English Language Essay – 500 Words

Language is the art of expressing our thoughts in words. The three aspects of language study are Vocabulary, pronunciation and syntax. The correct ways of learning a language are:

1. Listening
2. Reading
3. Writing

English is a foreign language. It is firmly rooted in English soil. If one wants to have a good command on English, he must form correct habits of listening, speaking, reading and writing connected and standard English. Language is the medium of expression or communication whether oral or written.

Communication is a unified process of thinking, reading, listening, speaking and writing. While advocating the cause of a language, all these points are to be kept in view. Unfortunately, all these factors are generally ignored or neglected in our educational system. Nobody can deny the importance of English language in the modern world, particularly in the fields of science and technology. [the_ad id=”17144″]

Teaching of language is as important as its practical use. To degrade or derogate national language (Urdu) before a foreign language is sign of mental slavery, rather unpatriotic. This is what is being done in our country. A child can learn best and easily in mother tongue or national language. In a country like Pakistan threatened with regionalism, ethnic differences and disintegration, use of national language in primary and lower classes is indispensable for national unity and survival. Use of English from Nursery and K.G. class, is like giving stones to kiddies, instead of bread. Neither they understand the sense, nor learn the subject matter or digest it. They simply mug up without proper understanding. It is most unpsychological and against the principles of good education. English should be laught as a second language upto VII or VIII classes. Then it may be introduced as a medium of instructions onward.

Some people say that English medium schools have given good leadership. Language has nothing to do with the qualities f leadership. China, Japan and Ceylon have discarded English medium, still they are prosperous and progressive. To teach a foreign language is different from copying or imitation of foreign culture and imported standard of living. This is what we have achieved after’ 46 years of freedom.

Acquirement of knowledge is the duty of every citizen. Learning of languages is a part of mental culture. Let us Learn English, but not at the cost of the national language. English is said to be the Lingua Franca of the world. It is commonly spoken and understood all over the world. It is the language of advanced learning. Good knowledge of English is indispensable for modern progress and international lobbying. All advance studies and research work call for sound knowledge of English.

Our BA’s., MA’s, M.Sc’s and MAB’s fall short of international standards. They have to qualify in Toffle or entrance courses in English, for foreign studies and scholarships. It an irony of fate that our students going out for superior services or foreign studies, are neither good in national language (Urdu) nor in English. The education system should be geared to the needs and aspirations of a free and dignified country and the people. Strangely, after partition, weakness in English is considered to be a qualification.

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