Today’s episode was inspired by a recent news story. A few weeks ago, the US President Donald Trump met with the president of Liberia and complimented him on his English.
Now, that might sound like a simple, polite remark, but English is actually the official language of Liberia. It’s the national language, spoken by almost everyone there.
This made me think about how many people might not realise just how widespread English really is around the world. We often think of English as something mainly spoken in places like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada, but in reality, it’s much more global than that.
So, in this episode, I want to explore why Liberia speaks English, and what makes its history unique. Then, I’ll share some other surprising countries where English is also an official or national language.
I think this will help us all better understand the global role of English, not just as a “native” language, but as a language that connects many different peoples and cultures worldwide.
By the end of the episode, I hope you’ll see English from a new perspective.
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