Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you will think
about why you are studying English. A basic knowledge of
English has become a requirement in a number of fields,
occupations, and professions. Although many people learn
English for their careers, still many learn English for
other reasons. Why are you studying English?
Hey
if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English
dictionary
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Hi. In the classroom today you will learn a few facts about the
English language.
Approximately 375 million people speak English as their first
language.
English today is probably the third largest language by number of
native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
Including second language English speakers, the total number of
English speakers ranges from
500 million to over one billion people depending on the level of the
speaker.
The countries with the highest populations of native English
speakers are
United States with 215 million
United Kingdom with 58 million
Canada with 18.2 million
Australia with 15.5 million
Ireland with 3.8 million
South Africa with 3.7 million
New Zealand with 3.5 million
India has the largest number of English as a Second Language
speakers.
Following India is the People's Republic of China.
Modern English is the main international language in
communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio,
and diplomacy.
A basic knowledge of English has become a requirement in a number of
fields, occupations, and professions.
Although many people learn English for their careers, still many
learn English for other reasons.
Why are you studying English?
Until next time.
From
YOUR Teacher:Why am I
studying English?
Even though I am a native English speaker with a
standard American English accent, I continue to study
different aspects of the English language. English
teaching is my career and it is important to know as
much as possible in order to be an effective teacher. I
especially like to study English accents from different
regions throughout the world. I think English
pronunciation and accent reduction is most important for
English language students. Understanding idioms and
slang are also important and fun to learn.
I am also a language student and in the past studied
Hebrew, French, Spanish, and now Japanese. In the future
I am hoping to find time to study Hindi, Chinese,
Arabic, and Korean. Maybe even a few others. Language
study is fascinating and a great way to meet new people.
Survey:Why are you studying English?
English is the most studied language in the world.
Everyone has different reasons for studying English. Choose your reason for studying English on the survey
below and
post a comment at the
bottom of this page.
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for
students who want additional conversation, listening,
and reading practice. Please post a comment at the
bottom of this page in the
Facebook Comments window with your thoughts about
these lessons.
Learning
English - Beginner
Level.
A 30 minute audio broadcast of recent world news.
The
English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great
listening practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Beginner Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, video speaking practice, video
pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
Today
in History - Advanced Level.
Important events which changed history in America and around the world.
Great English reading practice.
Learning English
(Beginner - Listening)
January 4, 2019 -
A 30 minute audio broadcast of recent world news.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great listening practice.
Conversation Lesson
4 - What Is It?
(Beginner -
Conversation, Listening, Reading)
Anna is new to Washington, DC. She meets her friends to
go out for coffee. Anna has many things in her bag.
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then do the activities on this page.
Video Script
Anna: Pete, hi! Hi, we are here!
Pete: Hi, Anna! Hi, Marsha!
Anna: Hi!
Pete: How are you two?
Marsha: I am great!
Anna: You know, Pete, I am new to D.C. The city is big.
Pete: Yeah. But you learn a little more every day. How's the new apartment?
Anna: The new apartment is great! Let's get coffee!
Marsha: Anna, do you have a pen?
Anna: Yes. I have a pen in my bag.
Anna: I have a …
Pete: It is not a pen. It is a book. It is a big book.
Anna: Yes. Yes it is, Pete. I know I have a pen, though…
Anna: I have a ....
Marsha: It is not a pen, Anna ... a toy?
Anna: I have a ....
Pete: And it is a pillow!
Anna: Pete, Marsha, I know I have a pen.
Marsha: Anna, it is a map.
Pete: Why do you have a map of the world?
Anna: Pete, Marsha. Now I know I have a pen.
Pete: And now you have a lamp.
Marsha: Anna.
Anna: I have a pen! Let’s get coffee!
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Speaking
Listen and practice saying the new words for this lesson. Practice the grammar
and question structures.
Pronunciation
Often English speakers do not say the word "and" carefully. Watch the video to
learn about this reduced form in American English.
New Words
bag -
n. a soft container used to hold money and
other small things
big -
adj. large in size
book -
n. a set of printed sheets of paper that are
held together inside a cover or a long written work
coffee -
n. a dark brown drink made from ground coffee
beans and boiled water
lamp -
n. a device that produces light
little -
adj. small in size
map -
n. a picture or chart that shows the rivers,
mountains, streets, etc., in a particular area
pen -
n. a writing instrument that uses ink
pillow -
n. a bag filled with soft material that is used
as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down
toy -
n. something a child plays with
world -
n. the earth and all the people and things on
it
Activity
Do the activity and practice writing the names of common
objects.
Click
lesson activity to get the printable PDF version. The
page opens to a new window.
Study all 52 English conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginners.
Important events which changed history in America and around the world.
Read the following story.
Use the Online Reference window below to look up any words you do not know. This is great English reading practice.
Picture: Rangoon–Elephant About to Lift Large
Beam. William Henry Jackson, photographer, March 1895. World’s Transportation
Commission. Prints & Photographs Division
Burma
On January 4, 1948, the British colony of Burma, now Myanmar, became an
independent nation after more than sixty years of colonial rule. England had
established control of the country in 1885, designating Burma a province of
India. Ten years later, the U.S.-based World’s Transportation Commission,
organized and led by American railroad publicist Joseph Gladding Pangborn toured
the country. The Commission sought to gather information about transportation
systems for the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago. The Commission included
photographer William Henry Jackson, who visited Burma in the course of a
two-year journey (1884-96) through North Africa, Asia, Australia, and Oceania.
Myanmar is located on the eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman
Sea in Southeast Asia. Thailand (formerly Siam), Laos, China, and India border
Myanmar. Much of the terrain is mountainous and heavily forested. Myanmar’s rich
natural resources include silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, and tin.
Tropical rain forests support a wide variety of animal life, including tigers
and elephants.
William Henry Jackson’s photographs of Burma capture everyday life in this
predominantly Buddhist country. Jackson photographed everything from men walking
on a street and a woman selling refreshments at a railway station, to the
emblems of segregation. He also documented the region’s impressive architecture.
One photo shows the photographer riding in a railroad trolley car.
Avoid Ineffective Study Methods. An audio lesson to help
you study English more effectively. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great English study tips.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program.
Cool Stuff
Confused?
Found a word in Fun Easy English you do not know? 1.Typethe word in the Online Reference window 2.ClickLook it up
(opens to a new window)
Top Hits
Listen to American music while you study. 1.ClickThe ► button 2.
Enjoy some great music
Resources
These links contain many
English learning resources. Some are for students, some are for teachers. If you
find information not on Fun Easy English, please post a comment below, and I
will make every effort to add it to the site. Thanks.
