Unnecessarity for English Learners Becoming Perfect Speakers of the Language - Essay Example

Argument I fundamentally disagree to the claim that a vast majority of the first English speakers have to interact with and do business with the second language speakers, so the importance of speaking English perfectly fades away. While it is true that the world is becoming increasingly globalized and multicultural day by day, it is not true that the significance of speaking English perfectly has faded away. It is indeed, more first English speakers that the English learners have to interact or work with than the second language speakers.

Many of the English learners have to live and work in countries where English is the national language. If we take a look at the trend, it is generally the second language speakers from the developing countries who are migrating to the countries where English is spoken as the first language rather than the other way round. And most of these migrants have to pass such language tests as IELTS and TOEFL that test their ability to interact and communicate with the speakers of the host country as it would be required of them on daily basis in the host country (Greechie, 2012).

The migrants are only issued visas once they prove themselves competent in speaking English through these language tests. This essentially eradicates any need for the English learners to step down the level in order to communicate with the migrants. English is not just learnt for interacting with or doing business with the people for whom English is the second language. “English is the universal language” (Korpela, 2003). The application of English goes far beyond that so as to include writing research papers, writing books, making blogs and websites, and making speeches.

There is a certain academic level that has to be respected in order for one to have a journal paper or a book published. Most of the journals are very strict and particular regarding the standard of English used in the writing and the papers don’t get published unless they are up to the mark both grammatically and content-wise. Studies have frequently shown that people who speak English perfectly have brighter chances of advancement in their careers as compared to others who speak it imperfectly (Exforsys, 2011).

If there is any case in which it is not all that necessary to speak English perfectly, it is when the English learners remain in the countries where the national language is any language but English. However, even in such countries, people speaking English the wrong way are subject to criticism and made fun of. If a person speaks English wrongly in India, China, or Saudi Arabia, people start pointing out mistakes and telling the person to speak in the local language rather than speaking English wrongly.

In many of the underdeveloped countries, knowing and speaking English perfectly is considered a sign of modernity and style, and people not coming up to the standard are ridiculed. Besides, people who don’t speak English perfectly and serve as employees in some company are disliked by the customers, as it reflects that the company has a low standard. “Whether English is your first or second language, proper pronunciation ensures clear communication, and can be important in obtaining a job” (Mendes, 2011).

Last but not the least, speaking a language perfectly is one of the essentials of respecting that language. Speaking a language imperfectly is more like improvising it or giving it personal shades. This, in a way, is a threat to the sustenance of the language in the right form as the people who listen to an imperfect speaker, are encouraged to speak imperfectly. It gradually becomes a trend and the language loses its true shape and form. A lot of languages have been changing over the time because of such imperfect speakers, which is just not right.

Education Minister Andrew Holness condemns such practices in these words, “I have a problem with how the radio and television stations in Jamaica operate, that they just merge the two (dialect and English). Students get very confused. You have to make a distinction that on the formal stage, the language is English” (Holness cited in Budd, 2011). Concluding, the importance of speaking English perfectly for the English learners cannot be overemphasized. Irrespective of whether they have to live or do business with people who are second language speakers or not, speaking English perfectly is always important.

For the English learners, English is not the mother language. They are expected to speak in their mother language if they cannot manage to speak English correctly in their homelands. In case they migrate to some country where English is the national language, they constantly have to live and work with the first English speakers, so imperfect English creates hurdles in communication and integration into the new culture and society. References: Budd, J 2011, Holness emphasises importance of speaking English, viewed, 23 May 2012, .

Exforsys 2011, Why Speaking Proper English is Important for your Career, viewed, 23 May 2012, . Greechie, S 2012, Importance of Speaking Well in English, viewed, 23 May 2012, . Korpela, J 2003, English - the universal language on the Internet?, viewed, 23 May 2012, . Mendes, S 2011, How to Speak English Perfectly, viewed, 23 May 2012, .