There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world.But only a few of them are very important.English is one of these.Many,many people use it.Not only in England and the U.S.A.but also in other parts of the world.About 200 000 000 speak it as their own language.it is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a foreign language.many millions are to do so.
Is it easy or difficult to learn English?Different people may have different answers.Have you ever noticed ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines?“Learn English in six weeks,or your money back…” “Easy and fun!Our records and tapes help you master your English in a month.From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent.Just send…” Of course,it never happens quite like that.
The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue.We should remember that we all learned our own language well when we were children.If we could learn English in the same way,it would not seem so difficult.Think of what a small child does.He listens to what people say.He tries what he hears.When he wants something,he has to ask for it.He is using the language,talking in it,thinking in it all the time.Just imagine how muck practice that gets.
So it is hard to say that learning English is easy,because a good command of English depends upon a lot of practice.And practice needs great effort and takes much time.Good teachers,records,tapes,books,and dictionaries will help.But they cannot do the student's work for him.