ARTICLES
English as the lingua franca of a new age: Its more powerful than any law
If Congress has its way, English will become the official language of the United States. Thats a bold move. But the World Cup soccer tournament beat them to it.
For the first time, World Cup referees and their assistants will have to show proficiency in written and spoken English in order to be among the 44 officials taking part in soccers global tournament this summer. If any game is international, its football, as its called in most of the world. But when it comes to making tough calls on the field, the 2006 World Cup will have an English accent.
English has become a second language for much of the world, without anyone in Washington, Madison or elsewhere decreeing it must happen. There are somewhere between 380 million and 400 million native speakers of English and at least as many others who speak it as a second language. Within a decade, according to a 2004 report to the British Council, 2 billion people will be studying English and half of the world (about 3 billion people by then) will speak it to one degree or another.
English has become lingua franca, or universal language, for reasons that...
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IELTS Test Knowledge - Basic Info
IELTS Registration
Every year, thousands of people around the world appear for the IELTS. So you should register for your exam a long time in advance to avoid disappointment and to prevent yourself having to travel to a distant location to obtain the test date most convenient for you.
Before selecting a test date, remember that the exam is a challenging one and ensure that you have sufficient time to prepare adequately. If you are applying to a university or institute of higher learning, bear in mind their deadlines and also make sure you leave enough time for your scores to arrive and be reported to them.
To register for your IELTS exam, do the following:
1. 1. Go to the official IELTS website at www.ielts.org
2. 2. At the top of the page, where it says “Search for an IELTS Test Centre”, scroll down the menu and click on your desired country.
3. 3. Select the desired city.
4. 4.
Select the...
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