way2go! 6. Practice Pack, Arbeitsheft

34 Unit 06 | Of angst and Oscars Read the article below. The first sentences of the paragraphs are missing. Match the sentences below to the beginning of the paragraphs. There is one sentence you won’t need. READING 4 How English became the global language (1) With more than 350 million people around the world speaking English as a first language and more than 430 million speaking it as a second language, there are English speakers in most countries around the world. Why is English so popular, though? And why has it become a global language? (2) This is increasingly true as international trade is getting more important every year. Many of the best university programmes are taught in English, so speaking it well can put you in a position to get the best training and education. Most multinational companies require a certain degree of English from potential employees, which is why in order to get a position with a top company, more and people are learning English. (3) Much of the technical terminology is based on English words, and if you want to learn about the latest developments and discoveries from around the world, you’ll read about them in journals and research reports published in English, no matter whether the scientists who wrote them are from China or Norway. And, of course, with good conversational English, you’ll be able to make important contacts at conferences and seminars. (4) Of course, if the best programme in your field is in an English-speaking country, English will give you the opportunity to study with the top scientists. Western universities are attracting more and more visiting scientists, students and professors from all around the world, and their common working language is English. (5) Even if you’re writing your articles and doing interviews in your own language, with good English you can get background material from international papers and magazines from around the world. You can interview foreign businesspeople, diplomats and maybe even get sent to write about overseas stories. Good English skills mean that you do not have to rely on translators and can work faster and more accurately with English information sources. (6) As the international language of aviation, pilots and cabin crew all need to speak English. Even if you’re not up in the air, speaking English accurately will help you to communicate with clients all over the world. (7) With all the resources available on the internet and so many other English speakers around the world to practise with, there’s never been a better time to start learning English. Pick up a book, learn a few words, or even start a course today and take your first steps towards becoming one of nearly 800 million English speakers in the world. A If you would like to work in science or medicine, you need to know English too. B So, what’s stopping you from learning this global language? C If you want a career in travel, English is absolutely essential. D Teaching English is important. E People often talk about English as a global language or ‘lingua franca’. F English also opens doors in the academic world. G Journalists and writers around the world are finding good English skills to be increasingly useful. H People often call English the international language of business. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum de Verlags öbv