Most people say they learn English for professional reasons, some for travel, cultural reasons, or to build relationships, but few people have any idea of the tremendous impact being fluent in English has on human consciousness, global interconnection, and the way we perceive ourselves in the world.
English is undoubtedly the universal language. It's not about linguistic imperialism, it's about the reality of living in a modern and globalized world. English is not only the language of international business, diplomacy, and tourism, it can also open your mind to the world with a whole new perspective.
We call this new perspective Global Citizenship and it is a collection of processes, skills, character traits, and attitudes that together form an identity that transcends geographical and political boundaries and encompasses all humanity.
We may not be limitless in the physical sense, but we have the means, opportunity, and responsibility to actively participate in an existing international community and space of consciousness that fosters a better, more peaceful, united world, and the diplomatic way to solve global problems.
The problems are many, they are serious, and if we are to rid ourselves of our cancerous ways, we must dramatically broaden our worldview to make room for all cultures and religions in our identity, to celebrate our differences, but ultimately, we must recognize what we have in common as human beings is much, much stronger than what separates us.
As we learn, meet people from all over the world, and open our minds to new cultures, knowledge, experiences, and ways of seeing the world, we unlock the hidden and transformative potential of learning English: global citizenship.
Here are 4 ways English helps us build a global perspective.
1. Communication is key
The first and most direct impact of fluency in English is that you can communicate with people from different cultures, and this alone will change your perspective. Nothing can replace communication, the gateway to real human connection and relationship. No travel, no education, no intelligence, not even good knowledge can replace it.
When you truly connect with people from other cultures, you expose yourself to the bare truth, forcing you to challenge the beliefs and stereotypes you have inherited from your culture and put yourself in their shoes. This makes it increasingly difficult to project your fears and misunderstandings onto others, and you realize that people from other religions, cultures, and backgrounds are not as different as you once thought.
In fact, your understanding of "they" as an outside group of people different from you begins to dissolve and you become a "we" with which you can identify. This happens through personal and professional communication, as well as exposure to and enrichment with other aspects of different cultures such as music, food, and traditions. All very important experiences, but the key that opens the door is speaking the same language.
"The limits of your language are the limits of your world." -Ludwig Wittgenstein
In this sense, English has become the language of peace and diplomacy. Being able to communicate and interact with people from a wide variety of places is the first big step towards global citizenship. It puts you in a position to change your perspective, not just of other cultures, but of yourself, and you begin to see that we are all in the same boat.
2. You recognize multiplicity and unity
From fluid communication and human connection flows direct experience and understanding of all the different cultures you find on your way. This allows you to get out of a restricted, one-dimensional worldview and begin to include perspectives that may not seem so obvious to you.
Your first impression may be that people from other cultures and perspectives are different, even strange, but you'll soon realize that we actually have a lot in common. This may be early or late depending on your age and maturity, but if you are willing to move on, meet people, learn, and open your heart and mind to the world, it will gradually change you.
The effect is huge! First of all, you begin to appreciate the uniqueness of not only other cultures but your own cultures as well.
Even though you see that your nation is just one of many and not the absolute reality you think it is.
3. Good knowledge catalyzes new perspectives
A crucial weapon on the road to global citizenship that only English can offer is access to exponentially better sources of information. There is nothing more powerful and compelling than a wide variety of good information, and no other language comes anywhere near the amount and quality of information English provides.
The more you read, listen, watch and learn about the world and your country through various alternative media sources, the more you realize that you have been wrong throughout your life due to misinformation, incompleteness, and prejudice.
The simplified explanation for this is that people who control information in any country control the masses. In fact, nearly 98% of corporate media in nearly every country is controlled by a small group of wealthy, powerful, and politically connected families with a vested interest in manipulating information and misleading the masses.
In fact, all wars are fought for this.
"Problems cannot be solved at the level of thinking that created them." -Albert Einstein
With fluent English and access to an Internet connection, you can open the doors to a whole new world of knowledge that will mobilize your worldview and give you the tools to validate what you hear around you, enriching your perspective with many sources of information. local. news and constantly educating and retraining you.
4. "Become the change you want to see in the world." -Gandhi
Everything we've talked about so far is important. There is no substitute for a truly well-developed and informed global perspective.
Learning English will greatly facilitate your way to this point by allowing you to interact with people from all over the world, helping you see your true place in the global family, and giving you access to exponentially better alternative sources of information.
However, the last step has nothing to do with English, but rather a personal choice and an ongoing process that requires us to apply what we learn and truly live with our worldview.
It is to embody your message, to allow your life and actions to serve as a vehicle for what you know to be true and to be a force for change, not just for your family, your culture, and your religion, but for the entire world. world. spherical. family.
To be a global citizen is to allow your life to be a reflection of your global consciousness.
It is different for everyone and is more of a journey than a destination, but being a global citizen is about applying what you learn to make the world a better place. This means that you see the world, humanity, and nature holistically and interconnected and accept responsibility for making the world a better place.
