"Why should I learn another language when everyone speaks English" you ask?

An estimated 7.5 billion people live on planet earth, according to the most recent United Nations estimates.

According to Ethnologue, there are roughly 7000 known, living languages spoken in the world today.

Many people in the United States believe English to be the lingua franca of world affairs. However, only about 5% of the entire world speaks English as a first language. That means 7.125 billion people do not.

Furthermore, 75% of the world's population does not speak English at all. Mathematically speaking, that equates to 5.625 billion people speaking an entirely different tongue.

What does that mean? It means the majority of the 7000 living languages on the planet are not English. So is there a legitimate reason for English speakers to sit back on their haunches, believe everyone else should bend to English, and NOT learn another language?

No!

We are all products of our own cultures. That said, immersing yourself in a new language and culture is the surest way to become an open-minded and considerate human being. Learning a foreign language will provide opportunities to talk to locals in their native vernacular, which will give you a unique peak into their authentic cultures and ultimately transform your world view.

Also, learning another language can help you get a job. When a company has to choose between two equally-skilled candidates, a person who is bilingual or multilingual will almost always get the job.

Furthermore, learning a foreign language puts the brain to task. A foreign language is a whole new system with distinct rules and meanings. As the brain works out the complexities of this new language, reading, negotiating, and problem-solving skills are increased. Science has proven that this helps delay dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Finally, it takes a lot of work to learn a foreign language. Doing so builds self confidence, self-discovery and self-actualization. It takes a lot of work to learn a foreign language. The process that gets you to that point, helps you come to terms with how you view the world and other cultures. You also gain an appreciation for your own culture, which helps you come to terms with who you are.