Most people in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada speak English as a first language. However, English is spoken all over the world： it is the main language in more than 60 countries such as India, Singapore and many of the Caribbean (加勒比海的) and Pacific (太平洋的) islands. In these places English is often a second language.
English is also used as an important international language in many other countries, like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business, and travelers use English when they are in foreign countries. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English, listening to English music and watching English films.
English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speakers come or don't come from those counties, People in Japan or Korea, for example, may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans. English will be the most widely used language in the world in the 21st century. This language no longer belongs to only British, American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone in the world. Therefore, as a high school of English today, think about how you can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.
