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The English Language

Which language is spoken by the largest number of people in the world? Of course, the answer is Chinese. But which language is the most widely spoken in the world? The answer is English.

English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But it is also used very widely as a foreign language in many other countries in the world.

The next time you see a watch, look at the back. You may see the English words "Made in China". Look at something else, for example, a walkman. Again, you may find the English words "Made in Japan", or "Made in Korea", or even "Made in Germany".

Why? English is the first language in none of these countries. Then why are the English words "Made in ..." written on these things? It is because in the modern world, English is very widely used for business between different countries. So when a German buys something from a Japanese, or an Indian sells something to a Frenchman, they may all use English. Most business letters around the world are written in English. Half the world's telephone calls are made in English. Three quarters of the world's books and newspapers are written in English.

If you travel in India, or France, or Germany, or almost any other country in the world, you will still be able to use English. It is used by travelers and business people all over the world. That is why we are learning English in China. It is one of the world's most important languages because it is so widely used. If you learn even a little English, you will find it useful after you leave school.