| Why learn languages? Why would anyone want to | | | | can help bring us into better contact with |
| learn someone else's language? Obviously, | | | | ourselves and open up a whole new |
| there are a lot of reasons, and if the | | | | understanding of ourselves and how we got to |
| question is on your mind, then you probably | | | | be who and where we are.Do you have a new |
| have a desire or need to learn a language | | | | addition to the family by marriage? Learning |
| yourself. The answer is often different for | | | | even a little of your new family members |
| people. Put 10 random people together who are | | | | language can bring both families closer |
| learning another language and you will | | | | together. Or maybe you're looking for love |
| probably have 7 or 8 different reasons and 5 | | | | yourself. Think of the possibilities when you |
| or 6 different languages. Every answer is | | | | learn another language. The increase in |
| valid. Every reason is the right reason for | | | | possible social contacts is tremendous when |
| that person and every language is the right | | | | you add a whole new way to communicate. That |
| language. There is no wrong answer to the | | | | goes for love, friendship, travel or |
| question 'why learn a language?' and there is | | | | business.Learning a language for business is |
| no wrong language to learn.The ability to | | | | a very common reason. The business |
| learn another language is not limited by | | | | opportunities that have arisen in the last |
| economic background, ethnic background, | | | | few decades have made it almost imperative |
| nationality, gender, race, religion, age or | | | | for a businessperson to have language skills. |
| the grades you got (or are getting) in | | | | English may be spoken by many people and it |
| school. While everyone is different, and we | | | | is the language of the internet, but in order |
| all have differing abilities and strengths, | | | | to really cultivate |
| we all have language ability to some degree. | | | | |
| Maybe we all aren't going to become great | | | | business relationships and get ahead in the |
| orators or novelists in another language, but | | | | business world, language skills are a must. |
| we all have the ability to learn, and | | | | There are a wide variety of industries in |
| communicate in other languages.There is no | | | | which having language ability is a great |
| danger of learning 'too much.' You can't fill | | | | advantage. It broadens our job skills and |
| up your head with too much language, and | | | | career options.The reasons for students to |
| there's no danger of you losing knowledge of | | | | learn languages are many, and not just |
| the languages you already know. In fact, | | | | because you need it to graduate or get a |
| learning a foreign language (or more than | | | | certain degree. Obviously, improving English |
| one) improves memory, math skills, analytical | | | | skills and overall communication skills are |
| skills, problem solving and increases | | | | both valuable to students. Improvement of |
| critical thinking and creativity. Furthermore | | | | memory, creativity, problem solving ability |
| and most remarkably, learning a foreign | | | | and analytical skills also are of significant |
| language actually improves our reading, | | | | importance to a student. Studies show that |
| writing, speaking and listening skills in | | | | bilinguals routinely outperform monolinguals |
| English.Languages don't just pop up out of | | | | in all areas of testing. Scores for SATs and |
| nowhere, they evolve from other languages and | | | | other tests are shown to be higher for |
| change over time. Many of the most widely | | | | foreign language students, and the longer the |
| spoken languages are related and share some | | | | foreign language study the higher the average |
| vocabulary, and even if they aren't, | | | | test scores. Having second language skills |
| languages are always borrowing words from | | | | also makes a student more competitive in the |
| each other. English is full of words from | | | | job market.Learning a language isn't just |
| many other | | | | learning some new grammar concepts, |
| | | | vocabulary and different sounds. It gives |
| languages. Learning another language not | | | | insights into other cultures. It creates a |
| only gives you new knowledge, but expands | | | | more positive attitude toward people who are |
| upon your existing knowledge of English and | | | | culturally different and gives us a better |
| gives you a whole new way of understanding | | | | understanding of what it's like to be an |
| it. Furthermore, you begin to learn how to | | | | immigrant. Accomplishing this life skill will |
| learn languages, making it easier to learn | | | | give you increased prestige in your own |
| other languages and understand how language | | | | culture and a markedly increased status in |
| and | | | | other cultures. It's a required skill to |
| | | | become a World Citizen. Ultimately, learning |
| communication works in general. Other | | | | other languages gives us a better |
| languages are not just a word for word | | | | |
| translation of English, but an interpretation | | | | understanding of our own language and our |
| of events and opinions from a different point | | | | own culture, and a new viewpoint to look at |
| of view.So, why learn languages? Ok, so there | | | | the world in which we live and define our |
| are some benefits. Can learning a language | | | | place in it.One of my favorite quotes about |
| benefit everyone? In a word - Yes. I'm sure | | | | language by Ambrose Bierce :Belladonna, n.: |
| if you look around and evaluate your life you | | | | In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a |
| will see lots of opportunities to use | | | | deadly poison. A striking example of the |
| different languages. We are all surrounded by | | | | essential identity of the two tongues.It's |
| people who use other languages, or | | | | meant to be funny and it reminds us that |
| opportunities we could | | | | languages really are different, but it makes |
| | | | me laugh every time I read it. This, to me, |
| benefit from by using other languages. The | | | | also reminds me why I like to learn |
| possibilities are there if you look for | | | | languages. It's fun! The inner workings of |
| them.You may have relatives living in Japan, | | | | each language are full of little nuggets that |
| or you want to visit China. Perhaps you have | | | | are downright enjoyable to learn. So, why |
| a life-long desire to see Italy or you are | | | | learn languages? Lots of the reasons above |
| planning a vacation in Argentina, or | | | | pertain to me, but my answer is much simpler |
| retirement in Costa Rica. All are valid | | | | - because I enjoy it.Ron is a long-time |
| reasons for learning a language. Learning for | | | | language enthusiast, exploring Spanish, |
| travel is one of the most common reasons to | | | | French, Swedish, Esperanto and others. Learn |
| learn a language. There are more | | | | more about studying a language on your own at |
| opportunities to travel today than there have | | | | Language Learning AdvisorThis guide for |
| ever been before, and they are likely to | | | | self-study language learners has reviews and |
| increase in the 21st century Global | | | | recommendations of language learning methods |
| Village.Many people learn a language to | | | | and products, links to online learning |
| connect with their roots. You may still have | | | | resources, learning tips to maximize your |
| relatives living in the 'old country,' or you | | | | study time and effectiveness and articles on |
| may just want to define yourself a little | | | | language learning. |
| bit. Learning the language of our ancestors | | | | |