Tuesday 13 May 2008
Monday 25 February 2008
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Why should I learn a language?
Why should I learn a language if everyone speaks English?
How many times have you heard this? Well, actually nothing further from the truth. It is just one third of the world population who speaks English.
Emigration
When you move to a different country or region, learning the local language will help you to communicate and integrate with the local community.
Family and friends
If your partner, in-laws, relatives or friends speak a different language, learning that language will help you to communicate with them. It will also give you a better understanding of their culture and way of thinking.
Work
Knowledge of foreign languages may increase your chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips. In fact, people who speak a foreign language earn more money!
Study or research
You may find that information about subjects you're interested in is published mainly in a foreign language. Learning that language will give you access to the material and enable you to communicate with fellow students and researchers in the field.
Travel
Many English speakers seem to believe that wherever you go on holiday you can get by speaking English, so there's no point in learning any other languages. If people don't understand you all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume... wrong!
A basic ability in a foreign language will help you to 'get by', i.e. to order food and drink, find your way around, buy tickets, etc. If you have a more advanced knowledge of the language, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which can be very interesting and will add a new dimension to your holiday.
Studying abroad
If you plan to study at a foreign university, college or school, you'll need an good knowledge of the local language, unless the course you want to study is taught through the medium of your L1. Your institution will probably provide preparatory courses to improve your language skills and continuing support throughout your main course.
Secret communication
If you and some of your relatives, friends or colleagues speak a language that few people understand, you can talk freely in public without fear of anyone eavesdropping, and/or you can keep any written material secret.
Required course
You may be required to study a particular language at school, college or university.
Getting in touch with your roots
If your family spoke a particular language in the past you might want to learn it and possibly teach it to your children. It could also be useful if you are research your family tree and some of the documents you find are written in a language foreign to you.
Culture
Maybe you're interested in the literature, poetry, films, TV programs, music or some other aspect of the culture of people who speak a particular language and want to learn their language in order to gain a better understanding of their culture.
Food
Perhaps you enjoy the food and/or drink of a particular country or region and make regular trips there, or the recipe books you want to use are only available in a foreign language.
Challenging yourself
Maybe you enjoy the challenge of learning foreign languages or of learning a particularly difficult language.
Sounds/looks good to you
Perhaps you just like the sound of a particular language when it's spoken or sung. Or you find the written form of a language attractive.
It makes you a more interesting person!
Are you not convinced yet?
Why should I learn a language if everyone speaks English?
How many times have you heard this? Well, actually nothing further from the truth. It is just one third of the world population who speaks English.
Emigration
When you move to a different country or region, learning the local language will help you to communicate and integrate with the local community.
Family and friends
If your partner, in-laws, relatives or friends speak a different language, learning that language will help you to communicate with them. It will also give you a better understanding of their culture and way of thinking.
Work
Knowledge of foreign languages may increase your chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips. In fact, people who speak a foreign language earn more money!
Study or research
You may find that information about subjects you're interested in is published mainly in a foreign language. Learning that language will give you access to the material and enable you to communicate with fellow students and researchers in the field.
Travel
Many English speakers seem to believe that wherever you go on holiday you can get by speaking English, so there's no point in learning any other languages. If people don't understand you all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume... wrong!
A basic ability in a foreign language will help you to 'get by', i.e. to order food and drink, find your way around, buy tickets, etc. If you have a more advanced knowledge of the language, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which can be very interesting and will add a new dimension to your holiday.
Studying abroad
If you plan to study at a foreign university, college or school, you'll need an good knowledge of the local language, unless the course you want to study is taught through the medium of your L1. Your institution will probably provide preparatory courses to improve your language skills and continuing support throughout your main course.
Secret communication
If you and some of your relatives, friends or colleagues speak a language that few people understand, you can talk freely in public without fear of anyone eavesdropping, and/or you can keep any written material secret.
Required course
You may be required to study a particular language at school, college or university.
Getting in touch with your roots
If your family spoke a particular language in the past you might want to learn it and possibly teach it to your children. It could also be useful if you are research your family tree and some of the documents you find are written in a language foreign to you.
Culture
Maybe you're interested in the literature, poetry, films, TV programs, music or some other aspect of the culture of people who speak a particular language and want to learn their language in order to gain a better understanding of their culture.
Food
Perhaps you enjoy the food and/or drink of a particular country or region and make regular trips there, or the recipe books you want to use are only available in a foreign language.
Challenging yourself
Maybe you enjoy the challenge of learning foreign languages or of learning a particularly difficult language.
Sounds/looks good to you
Perhaps you just like the sound of a particular language when it's spoken or sung. Or you find the written form of a language attractive.
It makes you a more interesting person!
Are you not convinced yet?
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