5 Reasons Why You Should Maintain A Good Work-Life Balance
Language is the key to communication. It would be hard to understand one another if language didn’t exist. There are over 6000 languages spoken all over the world, some are even narrowed down to dialects; it’s a never-ending chain of communication. Although learning a new language takes time and dedication, it can be done if you are willing to put effort into it and it’s a great skill to have.
Why is learning a new language important?
Being able to speak or understand another language can create many opportunities for you in life.
Careers
Knowing a foreign language can be a huge advantage in the work place. You can widen your career choices if you’re able to speak a different language especially if you are looking to get into the translation or interpreting field. Whether you speak Mandarin, Spanish, German or Arabic, someone in the world will be in need of your language expertise.
Knowing another language is not only an advantage for you if you want to work for a translation agency, but your company may need you if they are thinking of global expansion. This could be a great opportunity for you. There are many doors that can be opened in life and in the work place if you know another language. Teachers, lawyers, doctors, chefs, everyone can benefit from learning a new language as today’s’ world is multicultural and it will make communication easier.
Studying abroad
If you plan to study abroad, it would help a lot if you knew at least the basics of that country’s native language. Although the school, college or university may teach you in a language you already know, it is not guaranteed that everyone in the classroom will speak the same language as you. It would be nice to communicate with your fellow students, especially if you are planning to live there during your studies.
Travel
If you like travelling, then it’s always nice to know the basics of a language. Your next travel destination may be to Portugal, Spain or Thailand; be prepared and pick up a book about that country and learn the basics of their language as this will help you a lot, especially when sightseeing. The basic phrases you might want to learn before your departure are:
- Hello
- Goodbye
- Thank you
- How much is it?
- Where is….?
- Can you help me find….?
Culture
Language can help you engage with different cultures. If you like the arts, music, poetry, films etc., then I’m sure you’ll want to explore all the different cultures in the world. A key to a better understanding of how different cultures work is through language. If you want to learn a bit more about the Japanese culture, for example, then it would be nice to learn a bit about the Japanese language first as this will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture easier.
Brings friends/family together
Language can bring people together from different fields of life, whether it is in education, in a work place or even through socialising. Your best friend, partner or in-laws may speak a different language and if you are willing to learn that language, then you would be able to build a relationship with that person. Just by learning their language, you could have a better understanding of the way they think and their culture. Why they speak, dress or do the things they do in a certain way.
Language is a very powerful tool to possess in life. The more languages you know, the more opportunities you can create in life. If you have the chance to learn a new language, go for it. You never know when it could come in handy.
Author Bio
Nancy Carranza is a recent graduate of Media & Cultural Studies from Kingston University. She is working as a translator for www.translationservices24.com specialising in Spanish translations. She is passionate about writing and travelling the world.
About the author
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I think learning a foreign language is, among other things, a wonderful tool for self-development!