English as a Lingua Franca (ELF)
English as a Common Language Imagine trying to talk to someone who speaks a completely different language. It can be tough! That's where English comes in for many people around the world. We call this "English as a Lingua Franca," or ELF for short. Think of ELF like a helpful bridge. It's a way for people from different countries, who speak different first languages, to understand each other. It's not just about people from England or America talking to each other. It's about a Japanese person talking to a Brazilian person, or an Italian scientist working with a Chinese researcher – all using English. Why is this happening? The World is Connected: We travel more, do business with people in other countries, and share information online. English has become a common way to make all this easier. It's Practical: For many situations, the most important thing is to understand each other clearly and get the job done. Perfect grammar and a fancy accent aren...