- More people speak English as a second language than as a first language, with over 2 billion non-native speakers compared to around 350 million native speakers. This number is predicted to rise to over 3.5 billion people, or half the world's population, speaking English within 5 years.
- English has become the dominant language for international business, academia, science, technology and tourism due to its role in providing employment opportunities around the world.
- The way English is learned and used is changing as it spreads globally. Countries like South Korea are establishing immersion schools where students live in an English-only environment. As more people learn English, the language is evolving as speakers change it to suit their own needs