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