"Why do we have to get us to study English?" If your reluctant learners this dreaded question asking how you react? How do you motivate to really learn and apply English? Here's an approach, which I have used successfully.

Often when I make a scientific presentation speech in the plenary give or English teacher training, I ask the audience, Â "How many countries have Spanish as their first language? Â" Since I live and work in South America youÂ'd think the answer would be quick and forthcoming. Ita Normally not. After the group has been sweating it for a few minutes or so, I ask, Â "Would you like to see the list? Â" Of course you have so that I project 20 key Spanish-speaking countries, which are:

 • Spain

 • Mexico

 • Honduras

 • Guatemala

 • Nicaragua

 • El Salvador

 • Costa Rica

 • Panama

 • Colombia

 • Ecuador

 • Peru

 • Bolivia

 • Chile

 • Argentina

 • Uruguay

 • Paraguay

 • The Dominican Republic

 • Puerto Rico

 • Cuba

The fun begins

Then the fun really begins. My next question is, Â "How many countries have English as a first or official language? Â Turn "To the screw just a bit more I add, Â" YouÂ'll all English teachers, so you know where the language is spoken, should not it? Â "They agree that they investigate and for the next few minutes, the English L1 set list. More twists, a few questions and said I let off the pressure. Â "How many do you have on your list? Â" Rarely is the number more than ten or fifteen years. Take a moment, recorded how many you list?

Countries with English as the official L1

 "Would you want my To see list?  "I ask. You know what the answer is unopposed. Â" Do you think that something that is useful for an English teacher might know it?  "The result is a clear" Yes!  "always follows.

In truth, there is least thirty-five English L1 countries!

Surprised? Most English teachers are. And my current list might not even have all-inclusive now.
Anyway, here it is:

 • United States, Trinidad & Tobago, Belize

 • Barbados, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands

 • Guyana, British Virgin Islands, Australia

 • Falkland Islands, England, Grenada

 • St. Nevis / St Kitts, Jamaica, India, Bermuda

 • South Africa, Bahamas, New Zealand

 • Cayman Islands, St. Vincent, Grenadines

 • Samoa, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone

 • Singapore, Liberia, Ghana, Ireland

 • Hong Kong, Zimbabwe

Note also the official website for these and other countries for some eye-information on the impact of English on their respective cultures? Many foreign countries sites: News, current local events, audio, radio and streaming video. Need more information? Only a "Googleâ" the name of the country to a trainload or two sites.

What's the point

Thus Whata's the point? Only that ITA provide help on practical aspects in order to learn English. World travel and trade are only two of the many reasons cited for the feasibility study of the English language. The Internet, e-mails, chats and forums have contributed to an obesity the English language use online. A wealth of English-teacher resource Sites and a growing cadre of English language learners sites contribute to the benefit the tongue.

 • href = "http://www.etprofessional.com/"> http://www.etprofessional.com/

 • target = "_new" rel = "nofollow" href = "http://promo.net/pg/"> http://promo.net/pg/

 • href = "http://www.quia.com/"> http://www.quia.com/

 • href = "http://www.weblogalot.com/ping/"> http://www.weblogalot.com/ping/

 • http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/

 • http://www.eslbase.com/

The international News is online at so many websites! ITA almost embarrassing to try to keep up with them. Did I also mention, music, radio and entertainment?

 • href = "http://www.allyoucanread.com/newspapers.asp"> http://www.allyoucanread.com/newspapers.asp

 • href = "http://www.radiotower.com/"> http://www.radiotower.com/

 • http://www.live365.com/

 • http://www.cnn.com/

How about Online and computer games, learn fun places and practice grammar and usage, or get help in researching hard to find a too-information-on theme and Podcasts?

 • href = "http://www.zillions-of-games.com/demo/"> http://www.zillions-of-games.com/demo/

 • href = "http://zone.msn.com/en/root/downloads.htm"> http://zone.msn.com/en/root/downloads.htm

 • rel = "nofollow" href = "http://www.eslpod.com/website/index.php"> http://www.eslpod.com/website/index.php

Scientific, technical and medical knowledge are published online in English first, even if the first production of knowledge, not in English. Linguistic Imperialism? Hegemony? Perhaps, yet a reality.

So next time when you ask the question: Â "Why do we have to learn English? Â" donÂ't Pout, start ponying with some practical aspects of your learners. It can also help you see things in a different light. Learning English can be fun to make and useful. Help to see the students how and you rarely have to face is the dreaded, Â "Do we have to learn English?" Â "

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