A newspaper columnist once called the modern Earth "a world village". It actually means that year by year the globe is getting smaller with the development of communication means and increase in transportation velocities. People of different countries and nations have to get along well with
the progress in world trade and technology as well as with each other. So, it is very wise to learn foreign languages. "Knowledge is power", as one of the great men said. Speaking a foreign language one can not only read the papers, magazines and original books by outstanding writers, but as well watch satellite TV programs, travel easily in the different parts of the world. Besides, understanding and speaking a foreign language or two became necessary while applying for a good and well-paid job. I often say that learning a foreign language is like learning to play ball. A good ball-player spends hours, days, months, and even years practicing. The more he practices, the better he plays. He has to learn to meet the situations of the game as they arise and react to them immediately. And so it is just the same when we are talking. The ideas we wish to express come instantly to our mind, but there is no time for us to stop and think of how to put together the words we need. Acquiring the ability to use a language automatically, that is without stopping to think, is a process of habit formation. Forming a habit, any kind of habit, requires much practice. Fortunately, I began learning English even before I could understand the advantages of speaking and understanding it. Now I know that it is a must for a XXI century professional no matter what job to choose. One can not do well without one of the common European languages. I learn English because I want to read Kingsley Amis and James Joyce, Ernst Hemingway and Lewis Carroll in their native language. Besides, I like to travel. Speaking English, I shall have no troubles looking for a room or a meal anywhere in the world. I like to talk and make friends with people from different countries. Last autumn I became a member of the Student Pen-Pal Club and now I have much fun writing letters to my Swiss and American pen-friends. I hope, some day we shall meet each other and have a good time. There are also international friendship camps both in Russia and abroad where you can
meet boys and girls from any country of the world. They rarely can speak Russian which is much more difficult to learn than English. In a word, I understand that I have to learn English hard
and in a proper way.