Why Should you Learn a Foreign Language?

More and more software programs, electronic devices, and websites ardent to foreign languages are life urban daily. Why all the excitement? Why would YOU want to learn a foreign foreign language?

Job Advancement – Get the Competitive Edge

Many large corporations and government agencies have positions requiring a second foreign language. In a country like Canada, which is officially bilingual, someone who knows both French and English will have better employment prospects.

Travel

Travel to a foreign country can be exciting – and also very exasperating if you can’t know the local speech. Many North Americans are somewhat egocentric in this watch, expecting to find English spoken no matter where they are. Although this is sometimes right in larger cities, don’t expect to find English-speakers in small communities.

Relatives

The world is a melting pot of cultures and languages. You probably have living relatives in other countries with whom you could communicate more effectively if you took the effort to learn at least a few words.

Descent Investigate

Some of your ancestors probably spoke a different foreign language. If you plot to search ancient genealogical records, you will be more successful with at least a vital understanding of your ancestors’ foreign language(s).

Understanding Your Own Foreign language

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, ‘Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen.’ or ‘Those who don’t know foreign languages know nothing of their own.’ Learning a foreign foreign language will give you a much better understanding of English. Your knowledge of English grammar, vocabulary, verb tenses, and sentence construction will improve when you tackle another foreign language.

Self-Actualization and Challenge

If you’ve by now been everywhere and done everything – perhaps it’s time to tackle something new. What could be more challenging and rewarding than immersing yourself in another foreign language?

Opera, Poetry, and Prose Appreciation

Artistic works written in a different foreign language often cannot be completely appreciated when translated into English. This is especially obvious when listening to poetry. If poetry is translated into English with a preserved rhyming machinate, the meaning of the poetry is nearly always altered. Life able to take note to the original foreign language – with its subtle tones and nuances – will lend to a greater appreciation of the artist.

Culture Appreciation

One can only truly comprehend a foreign culture if the foreign language is also understood. Exactly what is ‘Bratwurst’ or ‘Calvados’? And what about foreign films? Wouldn’t you like to be able to watch something with subtitles – and skip reading them?

Invigorate the Brain

Adults benefit from the brain stimulation bent by foreign language training. Seniors who tackle a foreign foreign language show improved brain function over a period of time. Students who learn foreign languages as children score better on academic tests. There is also evidence to suggest that they may be more creative and capable when faced with solving complex tasks.

Learning Teaches You How to Learn

The self discipline and study habits bought through successful acquisition of a foreign foreign language can be useful to many other aspects of your life.

Studying Abroad

What better way to learn about a country’s culture than to study there? This requires an brilliant command of the local foreign language.

Communicate With Someone Secretly in Public

Imagine chatting in public with a friend about something private, knowing that only your friend understands!

Make Online Penpals and Friends

The internet is transforming our world into an intimate global village where you can chat via e-mail, forums, live chat sessions, and audio/video feeds.

Impress a Date?

In closing – male or female – you will make points with your bilingual date by learning a few vital words. If your date doesn’t speak a foreign foreign language, he or she will be impressed by the enchanting allure of intimate expressions in one of the ‘romance’ languages.

So – what are you waiting for? Get learning!

©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author’s note below (with active links) are included.

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