Greek philosopher Aristotle famously said, “Man is by nature, a social animal.” And perhaps, at the core of man’s social behaviour is his unique ability to communicate through languages. Languages are what define and distinguish us as who we are. They play an instrumental role in shaping the society, its culture, values, customs, norms, and traditions. Languages have the power to unite people as well as to divide and categorise them.
The contemporary world, with its ever-evolving and fast-paced nature, has led to rapid integration and globalisation of economies. Learning a new foreign language in the present scenario has become more important than ever before. Although one might question their significance, owing to the growing presence of digital translators and AI tools, yet, learning a new language comes with a wide range of benefits. Be it in the spheres of education, career, or personal growth. Keeping these in mind, here are a few reasons to consider learning a foreign language.
ENHANCING EDUCATION:
Languages shape our thoughts. Learning a new language can prove to be substantial to students as they open windows to new thoughts and perspectives. Several researchers suggest that people who speak more than one language tend to have more grey matter volume than their monolingual counterparts. The grey matter is a vital component of the human brain which includes regions involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision-making, and self-control.
Learning a language is often compared to solving a puzzle. Figuring out grammatical patterns, semantics, and phonological implications are known to develop skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and dealing with abstract concepts. Analytical skills are also known to improve when students study a language. Thus, it increases the cognitive capacities of the brain.
Moreover, learning a new language also helps to boost confidence through developing communication and conversational skills in general. For those interested in exchange programs, scholarship opportunities, or studying abroad, having a knowledge of a foreign language can be greatly helpful. Many governmental bodies and institutions provide exclusive scholarships to students who are proficient in languages. The French and Japanese governments are popularly known to offer such fruitful opportunities to Indian students.
CARVING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
As global companies and MNCs expand their network across continents, recruiters often look for multilingual professionals. Having a foreign language certification in your CV gives you a competitive edge over others in the job market, opening new career opportunities. In short, the appeal to global companies also translates to higher chances of business and employability. When you speak multiple languages, it also becomes more likely and easier for you to build stronger relationships with people from other backgrounds, be it colleagues or clients. It also increases chances of getting higher pay and future prospects of career growth.
While big companies like Samsung, Amazon, and TCS are among the top recruiters, the tourism, hospitality, and even IT industries provide lucrative career opportunities. Foreign services and jobs in embassies are also well paying for foreign language learners.
Although foreign languages offer more than just translation and interpretation jobs now, they still are pretty much not only in demand but exponentially booming even today. Thanks to the rise of digital, social media, and OTT content platforms like Netflix, Disney, and Prime Video, international content from any corner of the world has become accessible through the click of a button. The phenomenal growth of such platforms has proven the popularity of art, fashion, cinema, music, and entertainment breaking through linguistic and cultural barriers. According to various sources, big media and production houses pay anywhere between 12-35 USD per hour to their translators.
Even if you don’t take up a career in linguistic fields, simply knowing the language of the content you watch allows you to engage and absorb it in its true essence and flavour which might not be felt otherwise.
For example, the rise of foreign language content can be seen through the popularity of Spanish shows like- Money Heist and Elite or, its coming-of-age Swedish counterpart- Young Royals. Japanese Anime, Thai shows and not to forget the giant wave of Korean dramas and K-pop music have also modified the content consumption patterns across the globe.
(The Korean show Squid Game was one of the most streamed shows on Netflix in 2021)
Image credits: Pixabay
WHICH FOREIGN LANGUAGE SHOULD YOU LEARN?
Some popular foreign languages you could consider learning include French, German, and Spanish, which have been hotcakes for a long time and are relatively easier to learn for English speakers. Languages like Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic also have become popular choices due to their large number of speakers. Meanwhile, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and now Korean are also interesting options to consider.
With so many advantages, learning a new language could be an exciting activity to upgrade your skills and knowledge. While there is a lot more to learning languages than just knowing to speak, read and write phrases, it requires dedication, time, and patience to master them. They can be fun yet challenging at the same time. But above all, learning a new foreign language can break stereotypes, spread awareness, liberalize your mindset, and make you more accepting of the plethora of cultures across the world. It expands one’s view of the world, leading out of confinement and narrowness into the wider horizon, essentially establishing oneself as a global citizen.
