Have you ever heard that English is a superpower that can bring significant changes to a person's life, both in terms of education and work? By speaking English, interacting with others becomes easier and our social network becomes wider. We can also follow trends, learn about international and current affairs. This is because English is a language with a comprehensive literary tradition and is widely used throughout the world.
As shown by the EF English Proficiency Index 2024, Indonesia ranks 79th out of 113 countries, indicating that our English proficiency is still average, even though the job market is becoming increasingly global. Data from LinkedIn also shows that more than 70% of multinational companies emphasize the significant impact of English proficiency in their hiring decisions. Therefore, every job vacancy requires English proficiency as a requirement. Additionally, over 60% of online content is available in English, ranging from scientific journals and news articles to TikTok and YouTube videos. If we do not understand English, we will miss out on valuable opportunities.
On social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, most of the latest updates are available in English. The most popular trends, funny memes, ideas, information, and videos about careers are all updated in English. By mastering English, we can participate in more intense conversations with confidence and even create content that reaches audiences around the world. Just like in the world of work, from meetings, communication, email correspondence, executive reports, electronics, presentations, and many other things, English is a commonly used communication tool. This is because English has a more complete language literature.
Most of the latest research, reports, and business learning are published in English. So we are more up to date and that knowledge can help improve our work performance and we follow work programs in line with the era of globalization which makes our work more effective and efficient. With English, we have an advantage over others, like a “power-up.”
English is like a bridge that connects us to greater new opportunities, expands our international connections, and broadens our experience and knowledge. With better communication skills, we can encourage better professional behavior.
