Because English is so widely spoken, it has often been referred to as a global language, the lingua franca of the modern era. While English is not an official language in most countries, it is currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. English is the language most often studied as a foreign language in the European Union, by 89% of schoolchildren. In the EU a large fraction of the population reports being able to converse to some extent in English. Books, magazines, and newspapers written in English are available in many countries around the world. English is also the most commonly used language in the sciences.
