1. An estimated 300-500 million people speak English as their first language.
2. English originated in England, and is a West Germanic language which developed from Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons.
3. English is today the third or fourth most widely distributed language as a first spoken language in the world
4. Origin of English words: French, including Old French and early Anglo-French: 28.3% Latin, including modern scientific and technical Latin: 28.24%
5. The largest broadcasting companies in the world like CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC and CBC transmit in English, reaching millions and millions of people all over the world
6. English is made a compulsory language for most secondary school students in China and Taiwan.
7. English is written using the Latin alphabet.
8. The three-quarters of the world's mail, telexes and cables are in English.
9. English is well on the way to becoming the first genuine world language. It has been one of the official languages of the United Nations since its founding in 1945.
10. English is the medium for 80% of the information stored in the world's computers
