Yes, that’s my wordy version of «Do I need to learn English?»
Life can get boring enough and we all are in short supply of time and energy to add things to our to do list. So if you are going to acquire a new skill or a new set of skills, you need to do a little preparation first, to maximise your efficiency. You’ll have to start asking yourself a series of questions. In general they can all be lumped into why do I want to improve my English skills? But let’s break them all up for further clarity:
Who wants me to improve my English skills?
If the answer is genuinely you, then good for you, because it means you are in charge of your life path. But more often than not, people are not in charge. It could be parents, social aspirations, role models, academic paths or professional careers that decide for you. If any of these apply, reflect on whether you are absolutely happy with your life path. Maybe you have found a way to fit your personal aspirations into the requirements of your current life. Maybe you have a. plan! But it has to be your plan. Does your plan involve using English? Then. you are in the right place. If it is someone else’s idea, it will take a lot more effort. If you can find your own motivation, then learning to communicate in English will be easy and fun. Remember, you are going to work hard, think twice before you start.
Which skills do you already have and what skills do you wish to acquire or improve?
There are a lot of things you can learn to do in English. So it is important to prioritise those that will give you better returns for your effort. What is a return? Again, it depends what your priorities are. Striving to «learn the language» is not realistic in most cases and it leads to frustration and eventually people give up.
You should assess what your needs are and forget about a balanced, well-rounded set of skills. Maybe. you are going to. be writing reports in English all the time. Or reading them. Then concentrate on improving your reading or writing. It is OK. Once you can read or write as well as you need to for your job, then you can perhaps devote your efforts to speaking fluently. There is no shame in it.
Start with the skills you already have to some degree. That will give you confidence and a sense of completing the task, so to speak. Then you can move on to stuff you know little or nothing about, with the confidence that you have learnt to do something properly in English, so you can repeat your success.
What do I get in return for my effort?
Immediate returns.
You could need to learn to communicate in English because you are going to have immediate hands on use of. the skills you have acquired. For example if they are going to send you abroad for work.
Potential but certain returns.
Another possibility is that, despite not using it immediately, acquiring those skills and usually certifying them is often a way to improve your career prospects. Eventually you may be chosen for a job that will require you to make use of those skills. Therefore you have come to the conclusion that being able to communicate in English will improve your prospects. You might even get immediate results if your language qualifications will get you a salary bump. You do the math.
I insist: you do the math. It is your life, your time and your effort. Consider if your life will be truly better by improving your English skills. Whatever the answer is, act accordingly. If the answer is yes, I am here to help.