Entrepreneur and inventor Jay Walker gave the following talk in February 2009 at TED (see below or here).

According to Walker, two billion people are learning English, worldwide, and China is poised to become the largest English-speaking nation—this year. In China, children start to learn English in the third grade.

Whether or not we follow Walker’s portrayal of ESL training as a sort of mania—shouting one’s language lessons en masse may just be fun—we can agree with Walker’s assertion that the standardization of English as the language of business should make it easier to solve the world’s big problems. English may seem like the standard now, but Walker’s saying that’s just the beginning.

For businesses in countries that are predominantly English-speaking, this could simplify overseas marketing, sales, and service. Conversely, as the Tom Friedmans of the world point out, international businesses will find it easier to invade those English-speaking countries.

Is your company marketing in English in countries that are adopting English? Does the propagation of English expand your international opportunities?