Discussion questions:
1. The chapter says about a quarter of the world's people use English in some way. Does that surprise you? Why or why not?
2. The writer says English is important "not because it has more first-language speakers... but because it is used extremely widely." Do you agree that widespread use matters more than the number of native speakers?
3. Do you think it's fair that English became the default language of international business and organisations, or should a neutral language have been chosen instead?
Agree or disagree? Explain why.
1. Everyone in the world should learn English, even if it isn't useful in their own country.
2. It's unfair that non-native English speakers have to work harder in international business than native speakers.
3. In the future, a different language — or AI translation — will replace English as the world's main language.
4. Countries should protect their own language instead of encouraging English everywhere.
5. English became a world language mostly through luck and history, not because it's a "better" language.