Did you know… Learning a second language may change your life Gunhild Jensen In today’s global world, the ability to write and speak in a different language has become a valuable commodity that opens up a wider market of jobs, careers and opportunities. Educators and employers alike therefore tend to agree that learning…
Did you know…
Learning a second language may change your life
Gunhild Jensen
In today’s global world, the ability to write and speak in a different language has become a valuable commodity that opens up a wider market of jobs, careers and opportunities. Educators and employers alike therefore tend to agree that learning a second language can benefit you both academically and economically.
Many colleges and universities now require students to know a second language in order to be admitted into the academic program of their choice. Knowing how to communicate in a second language has become part of the general requirements aspiring students have to meet.
Likewise, many employers regard it as beneficiary to hire multi-lingual employees for various reasons. Firstly, it helps companies advance into foreign markets by appealing to broader segments of the human population. Secondly, multi-lingual employees make it easier for companies to develop an international profile, thereby making them more competitive.
So, the academic and economic benefits of mastering a second language are tangible: it can help you achieve your educational goals, build a career for yourself in your chosen field, compete in a global marketplace, and achieve international recognition for your work.
But in addition to an increase in economic and career-related opportunities, there are other benefits to learning a second language – benefits that may be less tangible but more personal and emotional in nature.
In the process of learning a second language, you dive into a different culture with everything that that implies. You learn different customs, different traditions and different out-looks on life. Together, this will challenge your own ideas and beliefs, leading to a new appreciation of other cultures and a better understanding of both yourself and the world we live in. It may increase your desire to travel and experience other parts of the world for yourself. In other words, learning a second language broadens your horizon and makes you see yourself and the world in a different light.
All languages are dynamic and constantly changing. New inventions and human progress are reflected in the words we use every day; as we change, so do the languages we speak. Therefore, learning a second language is never over. What you knew ten years ago may no longer suffice; new words and phrases have surfaced and others have become obsolete.
So, weather your foreign language studies are driven by academic or career ambitions or by personal interest, learning a second language is very much an individual journey – a journey that may last a lifetime.
At Language Learning Academy, we therefore welcome students of all ages and from all paths in life. Remember: it is never too late to improve your language skills!
