Importance of Learning English - Essay Example

More universities and schools are adopting English as a medium of instruction. Since English is a secondary language for these individuals, the way they speak the language is often not perfect. This argumentative essay shall now discuss whether or not English learners don't have to learn perfect English as the majority of them will be interacting with and doing business with other second language speakers.

English learners must become perfect speakers of the language. Even though the majority of these learners would be interacting with other second-language speakers, learning perfect English is still a crucial aspect of the general learning process. English learners must learn perfect English to establish a strong baseline for their English learning, including the grammar, spelling, pronunciation, syntax, and proper usage of the words in a sentence (Sweeney, 2003). Knowing the proper usage of English in a sentence helps reduce communication barriers among speakers and learners (Seagert, 2007). In the current age of cell phones and short messaging services where words are often shortened to fit limited characters in text messages, the importance of learning perfect English has become more important than ever. Without instructions for learning perfect English, improper grammar and spelling would likely become the norm which would cause the deterioration of the English language (Freudenberg, 2009). Moreover, this improper English language would also infiltrate the English of secondary speakers. As their English-speaking counterparts are learning imperfect English, they too would be learning imperfect English. In the end, the quality of the language would be reduced.

With more transactions being carried out with secondary English speakers, the burden of learning how to speak perfect English must not be eased or reduced (Segaert, 2007).  The importance of learning perfect English is based on the demands of the English language itself, not on those who would eventually use it (Pakenham, 2004). Moreover, secondary English speakers would also benefit well from the perfect English which is used in communicating with them. The foundation of their English communication has to hinge on the proper application of the English language. Adjustments made to the English language can then be made to incorporate the usage of other foreign words (Cleary, 2004). Throughout the years, the English language has adapted these foreign words into its vocabulary, but the essence and the structure of the English language have not been changed to accommodate a structure more appealing to the secondary English speaker. And this has helped preserve the structure and form of the English language (Cleary, 2004).

It is easy to argue that it is unnecessary to learn perfect English because many people speak it only as a secondary language (Kubota, 2009). They point out that not learning perfect English would make the language more relatable to secondary English speakers; in other words, English would have a more universal appeal if people would not have to pay attention to speaking it perfectly (Kubota, 2009). It may also be important to note that the pressure of knowing and learning perfect English may discriminate against secondary English speakers who often speak heavily-accented imperfect English (Hojena and Flege, 2006). These arguments however cannot be used as an excuse not to learn perfect English because the standards of English communication are founded on its perfection. If its standards would be compromised then the general patterns of universal and global English communication would also be compromised. In the end, the standard sought by English speakers would be based on secondary English speaking, not perfect English speaking (Crystal, 2003). Learning English the right way would make the language more dynamic and adaptable to change; it also helps maintain its primary foundations as a universal language (Pakenham, 2003). Without safeguarding these foundations, the English language would eventually lose its essence and perfection as a language and as an effective means of communication.

Based on the above considerations, even though English learners would likely communicate with secondary English speakers, it is still necessary for them to learn perfect English. Learning perfect English helps maintain its standards and foundations; it also helps ensure that the lines of communication among learners are clear.  Allowing imperfect English to dominate the application of the language would cause a deterioration of the language, one which would confuse learners and one which would compromise the quality of the language. Failure to instruct perfect English among learners would also mean that the learners would never learn the proper means of perfect or even proper English. Instead, allowing the learning process to be mediocre would also create a mediocre understanding of the language. In the end, the English language would lose its essence and perfection as a global language. Read More