ENGLISH LANGUAGE MONTH

ENGLISH LANGUAGE MONTH

English Language Month is a month-long celebration of the uniqueness of the English language and all the learners working hard to master it! In a world of 7.6 billion people, English has become a uniting force, bringing people from different backgrounds together through education, work, business, everyday communication and pop culture. Students around the world strive to learn and study in English in part because it is the language of instruction at many top universities around the world.

The goal of English Language Month is to create an ongoing celebration of this global and constantly evolving language.  Many common English words have diverse cultural origins, including shampoo (Hindi), waltz (German) and ketchup (Chinese)!

The TOEFL® test has partnered with National Day Calendar to celebrate and promote English Language Month.

HOW TO OBSERVE #EnglishLanguageMonth

1. Follow the TOEFL® test on Facebook and vote to select the 2018 English Language Word of the Year.

2. Watch a movie in English.

3. Listen to music in English.

4. Memorize a poem written in English.

5. Strike up a conversation with a native English speaker or someone learning English.

6. Follow TOEFL on Instagram and Facebook to take part in the month-long celebration.

7. Get some extra practice using the TOEFL Go Anywhere blog! Start by exploring the language lessons section.

8. Use #EnglishLanguageMonth to share on social media.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE MONTH HISTORY

According to the United Nations (UN), English Language Day is celebrated on April 23rd, “the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010 initiative by the Department of Public Information, establishing language days for each of the Organization's six official languages. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.”

Inspired by the UN’s English Language Day, the TOEFL® test partnered with National Day Calendar to extend the celebration for the full month of April.

The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed April as English Language Month in 2018.

The TOEFL® Test

The TOEFL test is an English language proficiency exam developed by ETS. The test evaluates test takers' English language skills in four areas; reading, listening, speaking, and writing. More than 35 million people around the world have taken the TOEFL test with the goal of pursuing a degree at an institute of higher education, applying for student and worker visas, scholarship applications and more. More than 10,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in more than 130 countries accept TOEFL test scores. The TOEFL test is the most respected English language proficiency test in the world and is preferred by four out of five admissions officers.

The TOEFL test taker community stretches around the globe. Test takers have access to online forums, study groups, and social networks through ETS to help develop their English language skills and keep them motivated to keep practicing. The TOEFL test strives to encourage students to pursue their goals at home and abroad and achieve success through hard work, determination, and test success. Visit https://www.toeflgoanywhere.org for more information about the test.