Why Study a Foreign Language? (2024)

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Over the past decades our world has become more interdependent and new technologies have allowed us to work in close contact with people all over the world. As relationships with countries grow, so does the need to speak a foreign language.

We have an enhanced need for an enlightened citizenship that is both culturally and linguistically prepared to function in today's world.

  • Department of Modern Languages

Twenty-five Reasons to Study Foreign Languages

  1. Foreign language study creates more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward people who are different.
  2. Studying a foreign language will improve your chances of getting a job.
  3. Studying a new culture helps you meet new and interesting people.
  4. Dealing with another culture enables people to gain a more profound understanding of their own culture.
  5. The study of foreign languages boots confidence.
  6. Graduates often cite foreign language courses as some of the most valuable courses in college because of the communication skills developed in the process.
  7. International travel is made easier and more pleasant through knowing a foreign language.
  8. Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased when you study a foreign language.
  9. Foreign language study enhances one’s opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc.
  10. A second language improves your skills and grades in math and English and on the SAT and GRE.
  11. Analytical skills improve when students study a foreign language.
  12. Foreign languages provide a competitive edge in career choices: one is able to communicate in a second language.
  13. Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory.
  14. One participates more effectively and responsibly in a multi-cultural world if one knows another language.
  15. Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved if you master another language.
  16. Foreign language study offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically.
  17. The study of a foreign tongue improves the knowledge of one’s own language: English vocabulary skills increase.
  18. The study of foreign languages teaches and encourages respect for other peoples: it fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature.
  19. Foreign languages expand one’s view of the world, liberalize one’s experiences, and make one more flexible and tolerant.
  20. Foreign languages expand one’s world view and limit the barriers between people: barriers cause distrust and fear.
  21. Foreign language study will completely chance your traveling experience.
  22. As immigration increases we need to prepare for changes in the American society.
  23. One is at a distinct advantage in the global market if one is as bilingual as possible.
  24. Foreign languages open the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, science…
  25. Foreign language study is simply part of a very basic liberal education: to “educate” is to lead out, to lead out of confinement and narrowness and darkness.

* Credit to Auburn University for compilation of reasons

Why Study a Foreign Language? (2)

List of languages by number of native speakers by "Jroel" - Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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Why Study a Foreign Language? (2024)

FAQs

Why Study a Foreign Language? ›

Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory. One participates more effectively and responsibly in a multi-cultural world if one knows another language. Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved if you master another language.

Why is it important to study foreign languages? ›

The study of foreign languages enhances listening skills and memory, increases analytical abilities, and builds aptitude in problem solving and working with abstract concepts. It has been shown to enhance the study of other subjects. Abilities in math and English increase, and creativity grows.

Why did you learn a foreign language answer? ›

Being able to speak a foreign language can make your travels more enjoyable and rewarding. It can help you to better navigate a foreign country, and allow you to communicate with the locals. Learning a foreign language can also help you to meet new people, both in your own country and abroad.

Why is it good to study a language? ›

Knowing a foreign language will help to improve your cultural awareness, increase your adaptability, and make you a more confident and effective communicator. If you speak a second (or third or fourth...) language, you may be way ahead in terms of your cognition and your career.

How many benefits of learning a foreign language? ›

Learning a second language has numerous benefits, such as improving cognitive abilities, enhancing communication skills, broadening career opportunities, facilitating travel and cultural exchange, and even delaying the onset of age-related mental decline.

What are five benefits of learning a foreign language? ›

5 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language
  • Better travel experiences. Firstly, one of the benefits of learning a foreign language is that being bilingual will open up a new world of travel opportunities. ...
  • Better Career Prospects. ...
  • Better Relationships. ...
  • Improved Health. ...
  • Language Learning is Fun!

What is the most important foreign language to learn? ›

Best languages to learn in 2024
  • English. English is still one of the best languages to learn as it is the official dialect of significant countries such as New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. ...
  • Korean. ...
  • Mandarin Chinese. ...
  • 4. Japanese. ...
  • Portuguese. ...
  • French. ...
  • Indonesian. ...
  • Spanish.
Feb 1, 2024

What do you learn in foreign language? ›

Communication: Foreign language majors gain skills in oral expression, critical reading, translation/interpretation, clear writing, and editing in foreign languages.

How can learning a second language help your future career? ›

Being fluent in a second language will increase your ability to find a new job, but it will also increase your chances to negotiate a more desirable salary. High demand, increased opportunities, a competitive job market, and better general communication skills: all of these add up when it comes to an employee's salary.

How does learning a second language help with communication? ›

With a wider vocabulary comes the ability to express yourself in different ways. In this way, learning a second language improves both your verbal and non-verbal communication skills, as you learn how to use gestures and speak with emotion in order to get your message across.

Is it really worth learning a language? ›

Learning a new language changes how you view the world. You get access to a new culture, different works of art and people who are completely different from yourself. This lets you view the world from their point of view and it gives you a different perspective on things.

What are 3 benefits of learning a new language? ›

There are tangible benefits to being bilingual: It can help you in your career; It can improve your memory and brain functions; It can help increase your understanding of the languages you already speak.

Has learning a language improved your life? ›

Studying languages has been proven to be incredibly beneficial - it can improve general intelligence, decision-making skills, increase empathy, among others.

Will learning a foreign language make you more money? ›

Increase Your Salary and Advance Your Career

Fully 40% of multilingual employees said language skills helped them land a job, and they earned 19% more than single-language speakers.

What are the pros and cons of learning a foreign language? ›

The pros and cons of learning a new language
  • Pro: Making connections.
  • Con: Losing your cultural identity.
  • Pro: Earning money.
  • Con: Not quite being yourself.
  • Pro: Boosting your creativity.
  • Con: Taking up your time.
  • Pro: Supercharging your brain.
Oct 19, 2020

How does learning another language increase cultural awareness? ›

Students pick up clues about the culture both in language classes and through meaningful immersion experiences. Researchers Hanh Thi Nguyen and Guy Kellogg have shown that when students learn another language, they develop new ways of understanding culture through analyzing cultural stereotypes.

Why should foreign language be taught in elementary school? ›

Foreign languages should be taught at the elementary level because it helps with literacy in English, it enhances problem solving, attentional control and the ability to switch tasks, but most importantly, young children are intrinsically better language learners, and will, therefore, become more proficient and retain ...

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