English as a World Language

1. Today English is spoken by 1.2-1.5 billion people around the world. Only 350 million of these have English as their mother tongue. English is also the most important lingua franca. When we travel, English is usually the language we speak. In the nineteenth century, the British Empire had a dominant position, politically, economically and culturally. They had traveled all over the world building their empire, but in the twentieth century, Britain suffered great losses in the two world wars. Britain lost its position as the world's leading power. However, another English-speaking nation, the USA, became a superpower. This ensured the continuing international importance of the English language.
Today,  we are surrounded by English. All the way since English became a world language, it has developed in different directions.

Checkpoints
1. A lingua franca is a language spoken by two people when communicating. Neither of them have this language as their mother tongue.
2. Around 1.2-1.5 billion people around the world talk english. Only 350 million of these have English as their first language. The reason English is the world's most important lingua franca is because of the amount of people who can talk the language.
3. When Queen Elizabeth 1 was the queen, britain started traveling all around the world building their empire. The English language was spread and adopted by people all over the world. During the nineteenth century, the British Empire experienced its golden age. 25% of the worlds population belonged to the Empire.
4. Britain suffered alot from the two world wars. They lost alot of their world power.
5. Today, the language is spreading all over the world. Almost whereever you go, you will meet someone you can communicate with by speaking English.

Comprehension
1. The Romans left Britain in the 1500s.
2. Today, we can communicate with other people from all around the world because the English language conquered the world.
3. English has adopted words from over 350 languages all over the world.
4, 1.5 billion people.
5. Only around 350 million of the 1.5 billion people talking English, talks English as their mother tongue.