There are countless reasons to learn English and they are usually very personal. In this article, I would like to share a few of those that I’ve heard. They come from my students and friends who have embarked on that grand journey that is learning a second language.

First, and foremost, is Work. The vast majority of people learning English are doing so for economic and professional reasons. In today’s economy, learning English is almost a prerequisite to entering the serious job market. In North America, English is absolutely necessary. In the rest of the world, it opens a great many doors. As the world continues to globalize, English is the international language that allows partnerships across borders. If you want to boost your skillset, working on your English is a great way to do so.

Second, many people learn English to Study. There are many top-tier universities and colleges, and if you want to go to one of the handful of the world-renowned institutions in Canada, The United States, or the United Kingdom (as well as inmany other parts of the world), you’re going to have to have a very high level of English. I have had many students from Latin America and Asia who have worked on their English for the sole purpose of obtaining the tools to attend an English-speaking university. Ever dreamed of graduating from Harvard Law? Studying Sociology at Chicago? Languages at Oxford or Medicine at McGill? You’d better become fluent in English beforehand.

Third, and this is a popular one, Travel. As I can relate to you from my travels abroad, you rarely need to know the local language, but you do need to know English (an unfortunate truth). It’s almost as if businesses catering to tourists expect you to know English. You miss so much interaction when you can’t speak English because many of the local people know their local language and one other: English. Would you like to experience a local historical site or culture? You’d better have some English in that backpack of yours. When I was traveling through Asia, my English friends and I had no trouble navigating all the countries we visited. However, on many occasions I had to help a French, German, or Spanish speaker find their way. It was always very surprising to my British travel buddies that I could speak another language.

Fourth, English allows you to participate in English-language Culture. Growing up in Montréal, every summer, I would wait with great anticipation for all the Québecois French-language films to hit theatres. Every year, I would be sorely disappointed by the low number of releases. I wanted more. There were too few, and of those, only a couple were the sort of films I enjoyed. In contrast, there are hundreds of English-language films being released every year, which gave me far more to choose from. Along with that, there are a huge number of shows produced, books written, songs recorded, etc. If you want to participate in all of it, you have to understand the language. Sure, you can watch the translated dubbed version or turn on subtitles for film and TV, but there is a lot lost in translation. I remember discussing a movie with my friend where a comedian plays a caricature of a French F1 driver. He told me he didn’t find the portrayal amusing. It dawned on me that he had watched the French version and much of the satire was lost. Some things don’t translate.

Fifth, is To Reach a Larger Audience. Ever dreamed of writing a book, song, or academic article? There is no language with a wider international circulation than English. I learned in anthropology that this is one of the biggest complaints of Chinese academics: they have to write in English if they want academic recognition for their journal articles. In recent years, there has been pushback from people representing their respective language groups who want to write in their own language, and I applaud their efforts. However, the fact remains that you will get more widely published and read if you write in English.

There are many reasons to learn English or improve your level. English is a tool, like a hammer. If I hand you a hammer, what use is it to you if you don’t have a use for it? But if you want to build a house, that same hammer takes on great significance. English is a means to expand your world. To get that promotion or close that account. To make friends and share your cultures. To connect to people with different experiences and realities than your own. To expand your mind by seeing the world through another set of eyes. To spread your ideas, your message, your work. To open up doors where once there were only walls. To build your house without worrying about whether you have the right tools.