The world's English mania - Jay Walker
//Summary - Level-B2//
Englishmania is spreading worldwide, especially in China, where students study intensely to secure better opportunities. English is seen as a key to success, not forced by America but demanded by the world. Like science and music, it connects people to global problem-solving. Rather than replacing native languages, English offers hope for a better future.
1)
00:03
Let's talk about Mania. Let's start with Beetle Mania.
Hysterical teenagers crying, screaming, pandemonium.
Sports Mania. Deafening crowds all for one idea: get the ball in the net.
Religious mania. There's Rapture, there's weeping, there's Visions.
Mania can be good. Mania can be alarming, or Mania can be deadly.
The world has a new Mania. A Mania for learning English. Listen as Chinese students practice their English by screaming it.
2)
01:07
I want to change my life.
I don't want to let my parents down.
I don't ever want to let my country down.
Most importantly, I don't want to let myself down.
How many people are trying to learn English?
Worldwide, two billion of them.
In Latin America, in India, in Southeast Asia, and most of all in China.
If you're a Chinese student, you start learning English in the third grade by law.
3)
02:02
That's why this year, China will become the world's largest English-speaking country.
Why English in a single word? Opportunity.
Opportunity for a better life. A job to be able to pay for school or put better food on the table.
Imagine a student taking a giant test for three full days.
Her score on this one test. Literally determines her future.
She studied 12 hours a day for 3 years to prepare, 25% of her grade is based on English.
It's called the gal cow, and 80 million High School Chinese students have already taken this gruelling test.
4)
02:45
The intensity of learning English is almost unimaginable unless you witness it.
Perfect perfect!
I want to speak perfect English.
I want to change my life.
I want to change myself.
So, is English Mania good or bad?
Is English a tsunami washing away other languages?
It is not likely English is the world's second language.
Your native language is your life, but with English.
5)
03:29
You can become part of a wider conversation.
A global conversation about global problems like climate change or poverty or hunger or disease.
The world has other Universal languages.
Mathematics is the language of Science.
Music is the language of emotions, and now English is becoming the language of problem-solving, not because America is pushing it.
But because the world is pulling, English Mania is a turning point, like harnessing electricity in our cities or falling the Berlin Wall.
English represents hope for a better future.
A future where the world has a Common Language to solve its
common problems. Thank you very much.
//New Words//
Mania – An extreme enthusiasm or obsession, often uncontrollable.
Hysterical – Overcome with extreme emotion, often laughter or panic.
Pandemonium – Complete chaos and disorder.
Deafening – Extremely loud, almost unbearable to hear.
Rapture – A feeling of intense joy or bliss.
To weep – To cry deeply, often from strong emotion.
Alarming – Causing worry or fear.
To let (someone) down – To disappoint someone by failing to meet expectations.
To witness – To see an event happen, often significant or dramatic.
Universal – Common to or affecting everyone.
Turning point – A critical moment that leads to significant change.
The world's English mania - Jay Walker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpILR21GWao
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@khushiagrawal566
5 years ago
English doesn’t represents hope, it is just making languages extinct. Look at Hawaiian or any Native American or native Indian languages, some of them don’t even exists. Your language, your culture is your identity. World used to be diverse but when English spread across the world, people started to disrespect their own identity just in thought that they’ll have a better life. We should not loose our identity and communication can be done in another language or even translated. But it doesn’t me that we have to learn English to have better future, your own language can provide you future at least in your country.
Respect your language, preserve your identity and have some feelings towards your culture.. Don’t come under influence of U.K. it has just spread english all around to make itself dominant.
@Saya1450
8 years ago
I'm am currently English teacher in China, and the English mania here is off the charts. However, China's education system is based mostly on rote memorization. Often, Chinese students can read and write English flawlessly, but cannot speak or understand it almost at all. Unlike in Europe, where an English speaker can navigate and even live abroad because many people speak excellent English, China is extremely difficult without knowledge of Chinese. So, until the government figures out how to teach English effectively, the English mania will continue to grow.
@tuskinekinase
11 years ago
Well speaking of the Gao Kao (college entrance exam) this video is pretty much twisting the thing...I myself grew up in China, took English as second language, and went through the exam. In fact, English is just one of the three or so subjects, pretty much like in SAT. Also the shouting tutor in this video has been popular for a while but that was like TEN YEARS AGO. His method has been very controversial. I feel the picture of English learning in China this video presents is very inaccurate.
