The two authors in the articles about language write in favor of bilinguality. Both authors mention the declination of the ability of English speakers to speak other languages and discuss if (and why) there is a need to be bilingual as an English speaker. 
 In the first text Martin Jacques writes about the need for Britons to participate in globalization. It is, for instance, arrogant of Britons to expect everyone to speak English and consequently this testifies of a narrow judgement, Jacques  uses  the term 'parochialism'. Jacques describes two arguments for learning a second language. In the first place he states that English no longer ranks as the number one language in the world and mentions Mandarin, Spanish and Hindi speakers. In my opinion Jacques lacks a further explanation for this statement, such as emerging new global economies. Secondly he argues the importance of language being used as a tool for accessing other cultures. 
 The first text concludes with the following three recommendations for a more global Britain: compulsory learning of a second language from the age of five, providing a  variety of languages in education (especially Mandarin), using language skills of foreign speakers to learn their languages.1

The second text is by writer Richard Holt [http://guardian.co.uk] (13 October 2006). Contrary to Jacques, Holt argues that English is the world's most widely spoken language, if the number of people that speak English as their second language can be included. Holt regards the English language to be beneficial for Britons and therefore speaks of "an important global advantage", being the universal language. He adds that English speakers can get recruited easily around the world and teach their own language. Holt's main argument to learn a second language is the development of analytical skills that can be used in different disciplines as a result of a deeper understanding of the native tongue. The second writer ends his article with "[t]he amendment to the education bill needs the backing of schools as well as politicians".
The incoherence in Holt's arguments for his statement leads to an almost unreadable text. 



1 Jacques, Martin. 2006. Does it matter if we only speak English?, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/dec/15/doesitmatterifweonlyspea?INTCMP=SRCH