Communicate
Being able to communicate with someone in his or her language is an incredible gift. Knowing the language makes you a local no matter where you are, opening up your world literally and figuratively. You will be shaped by communities. You will be impressed by the kindness of strangers. You will build lifelong friendships.
Advance Your Career
It's no secret that learning a foreign language can improve your employment prospects. The need for multilingual specialists isn't ephemeral. More companies than ever are doing business in several (often dozens of) countries around the world, but it is not feasible without hiring people who have a grasp on at least one foreign language. Even in small, local companies, chances are that the ability to speak a second language will set you apart from other applicants😏. Being able to communicate in other languages makes you much more valuable to an employer.
Feed Your Brain
If you want to sharpen your wits, then learning languages is an extremely good idea. The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. If that weren't enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps to stave off mental aging and cognitive decline.
Deepen Your Connection To Other Cultures
Language is the most direct connection to other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and encourages an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others😊. Studies show that those who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.
See The World
Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad. While monolingual travelers are capable of visiting the same places, travelers who know more than one language are more easily able to interact with the place and its people in a way that is often inaccessible to those without the language. Learning a foreign language also opens additional doors to opportunities for studying or working abroad.
Go To The Source
In a world of more than 6,000 spoken languages, we sometimes require translation, but speaking at least one additional language empowers us to access information that would otherwise be off-limits. For example, individuals proficient in other languages are able to navigate the Internet as genuine global citizens, consuming and assessing foreign media and entertainment😎.
Become A Polyglot
Not only does learning a second language improve communication skills and multiply vocabulary in your first language, but research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier feat. That's because when you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are ready when you embark on learning more languages.
Boost Your Confidence
Any language learner can attest to making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language, often in front of an audience. It's a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone.
Gain Perspective
As we explore a new language and culture, we naturally draw comparisons to what is most familiar. Learning about another culture sheds light on aspects of our own culture, both positive and negative, we may not have previously considered. You may find a greater appreciation for what you have, or you may decide to shake things up!😀
Understand Your Own Language And Culture
Learning a foreign language can actually pull a sort of reverse psychology on you and provide you with a better understanding of your own native tongue and culture. This is one of the most unexpected advantages of learning a foreign language. You will become much more conscious of not only cultural customs, but of the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation patterns of your first language.
But if you still struggle with making your decision😶, then:
Do you ever buy books you don't know if you will ever get around to reading? There is a word for that in Japanese - 積んどく[tsundoku].
Have you ever gained weight as a symptom of grief? There is a word for that in German - kummerspeck.
What about a word meaning to feel nothing towards someone you used to love? Ukrainian has a word for that - розлюбити [rozliubyty].
Asking why it's important to speak a second language is like wondering why you ever need to leave your apartment. Because there is a whole world out there, waiting for you.
Have a nice day 💗
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