By Channah Lohman, Writing Specialist
August 26, 2024

Working at the Writing Center, I sometimes feel the frustration of non-English majors working on English assignments. “We don’t need this in computer science. We don’t need this in sports. We don’t need this in math!” After all, we already use English to communicate in our daily lives—why do we also need to take an English class? However, the things most familiar to us are often the most surprising. English is like that. Learning English as a skill, not just an ability, unlocks the tools you need for savvy life navigation, more thoughtful relationships, and a smoother path to success. When you decide to lock in on English as a subject, your life will be impacted for the better.

First, let’s talk about the idea that we “already know” English. This is partly true—and mostly false. Thanks to simply growing up in an English-speaking country, many students have the ability of speaking and reading English. Similarly, simply by having legs, I have the ability to kick a ball. However, that doesn’t make me a pro soccer player. Soccer is a skill. In the same way, though I have the ability to speak, I still needed to learn the skill of English: evaluating and organizing information to communicate in a meaningful way.

Without English skills, we’ll be in for a frustrating and passive existence. This is because English skills help us make informed decisions. Outside of the classroom, society is our teacher, and we pick up the ideas, mannerisms, and things it wants us to know and feel. The problem is that this unconscious learning can be used in manipulative ways. Think of ads that use emotional or bandwagon appeals to sell products you may not actually need, or of statistics framed to look true without really telling the truth. There are also “facts” that are just false—like the one about eating eight spiders a year in your sleep. The most popular theory of that myth’s origin is an article showing how fast misinformation can spread on the internet. The skills we learn in English about finding sources and understanding intent help us navigate these sneaky waters and make sure we’re saying, doing, and buying things that we actually want and need.  

English skills aren’t only for survival, either. The best way to thrive in a society built on communication is to get good at communicating, and that’s exactly what you’re learning in English class. “Communicating” is more than just “talking”. Getting vague instructions, misunderstanding each other, being frustrated because you can’t quite say what you want to say, or getting a “meh” response to something you’re excited about are all symptoms of “talking” without really “communicating”.  We can’t escape the need to communicate well, and the stakes only get higher as you progress in life. Whether it’s a text to a friend or a memo to your future company, you will need to summarize, synthesize and organize information, then present it with ethos, pathos, and logos. This will be when those English skills really make you shine! English skills make us better friends, better teammates, and better people.

It's frustrating when you need to do something difficult for a grade. (I know I shed many tears throughout my math classes.) However, English isn’t just for a grade. English really is a life skill. Remember the difference between kicking a ball and playing soccer. In this case, “soccer” is really the game of life, and playing isn’t optional. Making the distinction between “kick-the-ball” English and the unbelievably important skill of “soccer” English is a wonderful way to inspire yourself towards success both in English and in life. And of course, if you need help along the way, the Writing Center is here to support you!