7 Reasons To Learn A Foreign Language
Does it make me a shallow person...
...because the driving reason for me to learn Spanish was to chat up the local girls during my time in South America?
Well, apparently there are other reasons to learn a foreign language too, and I explore them here…
1. To make the most of your travels
Imagine you’ve just come back from a foreign trip, and the guys back home are asking you all about it. Which of these stories would you rather tell them?
a) “We met a nice American couple in the room next to ours, and generally in the evenings we’d dine in the hotel with them. We had a lot in common so it was nice to chat.”
b) “You’ll never believe what happened. In the local store and I was trying to ask the owner’s young daughter what her name was, and if she had any brothers and sisters. Well, I kept getting the words wrong and the owner thought it was so funny he called the rest of the family down to watch this crazy American talk to his daughter. Before I knew it we’d been invited up into their apartment and I ended up drinking the local spirit and dancing with his Aunt round the living room.
If you picked “A” then I’m sorry I asked!
Speaking (or at least attempting to speak) the local language, you’ll find people instant warm to you and are more eager to help you, and involve you in the cultures of their country.
The better you are at a language, the more you’ll have these great stories and experiences.
2. You’ll be able to solve potential problems better
From getting lost, to being pick-pocketed, to causing great offence by using the wrong hand to wipe your nose, as sure as night follows day, things go wrong when you’re abroad.
Sometimes, they just cannot be avoided.
However, the smart people are prepared for this, and learn a bit of the local language first to help them when good times go bad. Situations suddenly get resolved much quicker.
If you don’t take the time to learn a language then you’ve got a much bigger chance of finding yourself on the wrong side of prison bars, frantically appealing to the (very unimpressed) local Chief of Police by shouting louder and waving your arms about, like an baboon with a bee sting.
3. You won’t get ripped off so easily
Nothing, and I mean nothing, lights up the eyes of a potential hustler than a loud English-speaking tourist who is heavy in wallet and light in local language skills.
Firstly, it’s going to be easier for them to confuse you out of whatever it is they want from you. And secondly, as shown above, it’s going to be much harder for you to resolve the problem if you realise that you’ve been ripped off.
If you speak a bit of the language, the hustler is more likely pass you by in search of an easier target.
And of course, often there are innocent mistakes too, like getting short changed (not everyone does it on purpose), but you’ll still need to be able to explain the problem if you want the correct amount back.
4. Stand out as an ambassador for your country
It’s a well-known fact around the world that us English speakers are lazy when it comes to learning second languages. We tend to think that because lots of foreigners can speak English, why should we both to learn.
And it’s true, sometimes it’s possible to get by speaking English, but this does nothing for our reputation around the world.
By learning a foreign language you’ll stand out amongst your fellow country-folk, and get more respect and teach people from other countries that not everyone from the US is the same.
5. It’ll improve your employment opportunities/earning potential
If you’re still active in the employment market, then having a foreign language skill will immediately make you stand out amongst your fellow employees or competing job candidates.
If you already have a job where you deal with foreign clients, even if they speak English, think about the times when they’ve consulted between themselves in their own language. This is the time when they’re really opening up and giving the juicy bits of information. No imagine if you could understand what they were saying.
Think of the advantage it would give you!
6. Secret communication back home
Here’s one reason you might not have thought of. But when you’re back home your with a friend who’s learnt the same language, you can have whole conversations about the people around you without them knowing what your saying.
Call it sneaky, call it underhand. But I don’t care, because it can be a great asset. It can be used for amusement, or it can be very useful when dealing with confidential or sensitive information.
7. Impress people
Finally, the real reason for learning a language…
As far as I can make out, the whole reason for human existence seems to be the pursuit of impressing others, and languages are no exception. In my time I’ve learnt a bit of Spanish, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than acting as translator. Women want me, me want to be me.
Ok, maybe not that much, but it really does make you stand out, and give you value in a group. It brings to mind one of my favourite sayings… in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!
The next question is…
Are You Too Old To Learn A Foreign Language?
(Click the link to find out)
...because the driving reason for me to learn Spanish was to chat up the local girls during my time in South America?
Well, apparently there are other reasons to learn a foreign language too, and I explore them here…
7 Reasons To Learn A Foreign Language
1. To make the most of your travels
Imagine you’ve just come back from a foreign trip, and the guys back home are asking you all about it. Which of these stories would you rather tell them?
a) “We met a nice American couple in the room next to ours, and generally in the evenings we’d dine in the hotel with them. We had a lot in common so it was nice to chat.”
b) “You’ll never believe what happened. In the local store and I was trying to ask the owner’s young daughter what her name was, and if she had any brothers and sisters. Well, I kept getting the words wrong and the owner thought it was so funny he called the rest of the family down to watch this crazy American talk to his daughter. Before I knew it we’d been invited up into their apartment and I ended up drinking the local spirit and dancing with his Aunt round the living room.
If you picked “A” then I’m sorry I asked!
Speaking (or at least attempting to speak) the local language, you’ll find people instant warm to you and are more eager to help you, and involve you in the cultures of their country.
The better you are at a language, the more you’ll have these great stories and experiences.
2. You’ll be able to solve potential problems better
From getting lost, to being pick-pocketed, to causing great offence by using the wrong hand to wipe your nose, as sure as night follows day, things go wrong when you’re abroad.
Sometimes, they just cannot be avoided.
However, the smart people are prepared for this, and learn a bit of the local language first to help them when good times go bad. Situations suddenly get resolved much quicker.
If you don’t take the time to learn a language then you’ve got a much bigger chance of finding yourself on the wrong side of prison bars, frantically appealing to the (very unimpressed) local Chief of Police by shouting louder and waving your arms about, like an baboon with a bee sting.
3. You won’t get ripped off so easily
Nothing, and I mean nothing, lights up the eyes of a potential hustler than a loud English-speaking tourist who is heavy in wallet and light in local language skills.
Firstly, it’s going to be easier for them to confuse you out of whatever it is they want from you. And secondly, as shown above, it’s going to be much harder for you to resolve the problem if you realise that you’ve been ripped off.
If you speak a bit of the language, the hustler is more likely pass you by in search of an easier target.
And of course, often there are innocent mistakes too, like getting short changed (not everyone does it on purpose), but you’ll still need to be able to explain the problem if you want the correct amount back.
4. Stand out as an ambassador for your country
It’s a well-known fact around the world that us English speakers are lazy when it comes to learning second languages. We tend to think that because lots of foreigners can speak English, why should we both to learn.
And it’s true, sometimes it’s possible to get by speaking English, but this does nothing for our reputation around the world.
By learning a foreign language you’ll stand out amongst your fellow country-folk, and get more respect and teach people from other countries that not everyone from the US is the same.
5. It’ll improve your employment opportunities/earning potential
If you’re still active in the employment market, then having a foreign language skill will immediately make you stand out amongst your fellow employees or competing job candidates.
If you already have a job where you deal with foreign clients, even if they speak English, think about the times when they’ve consulted between themselves in their own language. This is the time when they’re really opening up and giving the juicy bits of information. No imagine if you could understand what they were saying.
Think of the advantage it would give you!
6. Secret communication back home
Here’s one reason you might not have thought of. But when you’re back home your with a friend who’s learnt the same language, you can have whole conversations about the people around you without them knowing what your saying.
Call it sneaky, call it underhand. But I don’t care, because it can be a great asset. It can be used for amusement, or it can be very useful when dealing with confidential or sensitive information.
7. Impress people
Finally, the real reason for learning a language…
As far as I can make out, the whole reason for human existence seems to be the pursuit of impressing others, and languages are no exception. In my time I’ve learnt a bit of Spanish, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than acting as translator. Women want me, me want to be me.
Ok, maybe not that much, but it really does make you stand out, and give you value in a group. It brings to mind one of my favourite sayings… in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!
The next question is…
Are You Too Old To Learn A Foreign Language?
(Click the link to find out)
<< Home