English is indeed a global language spoken by approximately 375 million people across the world. However, it is interesting to note that Mandarin Chinese despite being the most difficult language in comparison with English continues to be the most widely spoken language, while Spanish and English compete for the second position.

Developed over a period of more than 1400 years, English has spread afar owing to the influence of UK in the history as the ruler, and with the USA emerging as the superpower in the recent times.

E for English, E for Effective Communication

The term ‘English as a lingua franca’ (ELF) will be soon coined, as it has become the most used language for communication by people with other native languages across the globe. Interestingly, as we are aware people who speak dissimilar languages hail from culturally diverse backgrounds, but knowledge of English makes them able to interact in a better way, despite the fact that English is a foreign language to both individuals.

With countries becoming cosmopolitan and the world a global village, different nations are known for providing opportunities that are unique to individuals. To garner these benefits, one has to travel and communicate with the world outside of their native country.

Most of the resource material that is available on the internet is in the English language. Many countries provide degrees in MBA, Medical field, Engineering, Fashion, Communication, Law, and International Relations in English. Most multinational companies seek professionals with flair in English to ensure optimum and uninterrupted communication nationally and internationally.

If one wants to interview a foreign national, or draft an article about their experience, or inquire about routes, or food in a distant land, English is the most preferred language.

Understanding foreign trends, networking with folks from the other nations, traversing the globe, trading with the business community outside of one’s realm, as well as to building a career in another country, the most popular language remains English. 

Courses and research data accessible online, submitting papers at conferences, reading about new cultures, traditions, cuisines and learning music, art, and dance, a general model of communication, verbally, written and orally, is developed in the English language.

Non-native affinity for English

Non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English speaking universities or professional institutions have to take the examination of ‘Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)’ or ‘The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)’. These two are both known and standardized tests to measure the English language ability of an individual. One’s capability to communicate in English brings him to the lead and makes him easily approachable, today.

Therefore, to get global to connect and to stand at par with the world and to comprehend the latest developments, industry jargon, modernization to erudition, English has emerged as an essential component of modern-day communication.

Innovate ways to master English

Mastering English to become a good communicator has become indispensable today. Needless to say, various innovative ways of mastering it has emerged today. There are several mobile applications and websites that have designed highly qualifying course materials for teachers to engage and encourage learners to get trained in English.

From Blended Learning that involves the merging of digital media with conventional forms of teaching like face to face interaction as well as online lessons, this approach has developed better interactive skills for the learners with their tutors. It has also prompted learners to recheck their soft skills and get some hands-on training for the same if needed.

Learning from Mobiles through apps and websites is a growing means of learning. Using mobile technology to all the teachers, departmental heads, students and learners on a single platform from where they can share lesson plans, weekly activities and examination dates. This is making it increasingly easier and efficient.

Another trending method of teacher-learner interaction is through Gamification of course material. It is interesting, engaging, innovative and entertaining. Holding friendly matches between students to make learning vocabulary fun with quick quizzes and real-time results, learning through games is helping learners get involve and evolve.

Another rising approach of learning is by engaging a beginner emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially is through Embodied Learning. Here audio-visual and pictorial methods are used for inducing one to connect and learn. This holistic approach is working well, as it develops one’s socio-emotional and cognitive skills.

Another newfound technique is Inquiry-based Learning.  This method involves the exposure of students to real-life experiences of people, in order to prepare them for the neoteric age. It is a way of training students by sharing real-life stories of people with them so that they can comprehend situations better.

Different media like reliable audio-visuals, interaction with people willing to share their success and failure stories, to students themselves talking about valuable life lessons, this method is more about communication that enhances critical thinking, which will be explicitly used in the times to come.

Many English teaching classrooms have opened their doors for students to use their native language for understanding the new one.

Instead of diminishing the use of their first language, newer methods of Multiliteracies and Translanguaging promotes the use of the first language by multilingual speakers to develop an integrated communication system. It also allows learners to linguistically express and represent their thoughts while intermingling with everyone.

Online classes hold the key

As we are progressing, the world is considering the need for online classes for people with special needs as well. Right from providing audio e-books for the visually impaired to creating support learning for people suffering from hearing ailments, tailored learning material has been thoughtfully created, even for the handicapped to learn and grow. The need for English for Specific Purposes has grown immensely, as it aids teachers with resources and ways of reaching out and teaching disabled students.

Another very interesting technique of learning is by Creating and Sharing Content. Bringing similar minds of teachers and students together, on one platform through a particular website or app; there are specific domains for each activity like writing, painting, art, music, quizzes food recipes to choreography, etc. that encourages people to learn, create, share and grow.

The highly developed and updated Learning and Teaching Management Platforms enables students to share homework and assignments, as well as take tests and participate in debates and discussions from remote locations, thereby ensuring continuous learning.

Today, if one wants to read, speak and write in the lingua franca (English), there are several websites that are providing the service of teaching this. From certificate short-term programmes with regular audio and video calls with the tutor to teaching material available with complete instructions, a number of portals are dedicated to teaching English to aspiring learners. While India has been the world’s fastest-growing market for apps in 2018, India is also the highest English speaking non-English country.

Renowned apps that have engaged the audience, helped them correspond in the current language of the world, built people’s confidence, as well as enhance their career opportunities.

Top five English learning apps

• Duo lingo – The American website and app of Duo lingo is a free platform for language-learning. It allows users to assess their progress, and as of October 2018, the language-learning website offered 81 different language courses across 37 languages. The app has about 300 million registered users across the world with over 29 million folks registered to learn English. Recent reports claimed that India is the largest growing market for the renowned web portal, Duo lingo and it has experienced a 13 times increase in its users after introducing the option of learning English from Hindi. This has encouraged the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based company to launch Indian native language to English learning options in Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, and Punjabi and among others

• Babble – The German company, Babbel is a paid language learning app and e-learning platform, available in languages of Dutch, Danish, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Spanish and Turkish. The website is known for emphasizing correct grammar usage, as well as encourages conversational learning for quick grasping of the new language

• Tandem – With over 3 million users, Tandem App is an application that allows its registered users to learn any new language from one its native speakers. It is a community app that enables its members to practice their languages with one on one through text, audio recording, audio calls or video calls. With the belief that speaking makes a man fluent, Tandem encourages conversations with native speakers, if one wants to communicate in their language. With mediators keeping an eye on the tutors and the learners, it ensures that both of them are genuinely working towards the objective of teaching and learning a new language. One can learn English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and almost one hundred and fifty other languages on Tandem, directly from its native speakers

• Memrise – The app known for building one’s vocabulary has more than 30 million registered users across the globe. The USA based company created Memrise with an aim to provide specialize learning as well as to offer other interesting content for a good read. The app is a user-generated learning platform that uses flashcards as memory aids. It uses the concept of gamification with gamified course material that is filled with elements of fun, brain use and learning through community engagement. The app functions differ based on paid and unpaid memberships, and it supports languages like French, Spanish, German, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, and among other hundred more languages

• Busuu – Headquartered in London, Busuu currently has 80 million active users around the world. This is a well-designed app that focuses on studying vocabulary and grammar. Its courses are available in languages of English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese. One of the interesting features of Busuu is that it offers a handy travel course for people traversing to a foreign country. It allows Busuu users to interact and connect with the local people; while also allowing the natives to correct the user’s language and help them earn points

While there have been innovative ways that have captured the market to engage new learners and assist them to learn languages, the conventional process of teaching and learning a new lingo also works well. Baby steps towards conversing in the language one wishes to learn helps develop interest, which is very important.

As technology has made the world a smaller place, it was imperative for a common language to come into sight and be known to all. Gradually, people are opening up to accepting English as the world’s common tongue.

To compete in the outside world and to connect with them by surpassing regional boundaries, one should know the common language and be able to express and win the people!