In much of the world , knowledge of English has become a basic skills of modern life comparable with the ability to drive a car or use a personal computer. The majority of African countries use French as a business and communication tool  followed by Portuguese. The above impact access to global to opportunities become limited therefore impeding development. Evidence demonstrates that countries  that have been able to integrate linguistically are seeing faster growth and reduced poverty. The use of English is expanding in continental Europe and Asia as a direct result of globalisation . This has affected commerce ( greater use of English as a corporate language and in advertising ) , the military ( a reshaping of Nato , Peace Keepers , science and education , the media , and the youth culture . The use of English is also increasing in the institutions of the European Union , the United  Nation, Africa and NEPAD. It is an easy language to learn compared to other languages , it conveys a lot in few words . English lacks the complicated verb tense switches of languages like French. If you want to integrate in the global word  then you have to learn English . However French remains a beautiful language much appreciated by the upper class. Learning both French and English give you a competitive edge.