Why Heavyweights Keep Studying English

A young Jack Ma, fluent in English, was once sent by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to explore projects in the United States. That trip introduced him to the internet and eventually led to the founding of Alibaba. Today he can meet heads of state without an interpreter and pitch Alibaba around the globe in effortless English.

After Richard Liu reinvented himself, he too began forcing himself to speak English in public. It is still far from perfect, yet he already communicates clearly.

Learning a foreign language devours time and patience. For high-profile leaders, time is the most precious asset. Why insist on learning English anyway?

Because English functions as the world’s lingua franca. Beyond Britain, the United States, and other Anglophone countries, it is equally workable in Germany, France, Italy, many African nations, and across Southeast Asia. Through English you gain a broader view of the world and unlock more business opportunities.

The world has long been flat. Ambitious founders must treat the entire planet as their market. Humanity just passed eight billion people; for Chinese companies, three quarters of the potential market lies overseas. To win those markets, you first need the weapon of English.

No matter how advanced machine translation or simultaneous interpretation becomes, two people cannot build a real relationship through a device.

Human interaction requires both listening and speaking. If you only understand but cannot respond—or speak without fully grasping the other person—you still fail to express yourself.

Language feels brutal at the beginner stage, but once mastered it pays dividends for life. As the saying goes: suffer for a little while, benefit for a lifetime.

Published at: Jul 16, 2019 · Modified at: Nov 20, 2025