The people on the island of La Gomera (of the Canary Islands) developed a whistling language called Silbo Gomero to send messages up to 3 kilometers away. Long before cellphones, this was a handy way to communicate over the island's moutainous terrain. The near-extinct language is now being revived.
This year, China will become the number one English speaking country. Two billion people worldwide are striving to learn English. Not because we're pushing it but because they're pulling it. They see it as the key to a better life.
Walker argues that this is a good thing because it gives us a common language to solve our common problems such as global warming, poverty and disease.
English mania has definitely struck Buenos Aires, where there are hundreds of English institutes of varying quality, often short on teachers. Despite the demand, being an expat teacher there is not the lucrative endeavor it is in some Asian countries. However it is an excellent way to get to know locals and get involved in the local culture.
