Will it help my application if I speak several languages? (2024)

If you are applying through the common application, keep in mind that it only provides space for five languages. You can include languages in the additional information of the application but still.

Generally, colleges want a diverse student body. This not only includes demographics (such as sexuality or race) but this includes things such as majors or income. This also goes for foreign languages. Depending on your major, foreign languages can improve your portfolio. If I am a classical literature major/minor, knowing classical Greek and Latin can improve my application.

Knowing more foreign languages will never hurt your application. Depending on the institution, it won't add much or may be a major part of your application.

Will it help my application if I speak several languages? (2024)

FAQs

Will it help my application if I speak several languages? ›

Yes, colleges and universities do value and appreciate applicants who have proficiency in multiple languages.

Is it easier to get a job if you speak multiple languages? ›

This means that if you're bilingual and looking for a new job in the United States, you have a sought-after skill that many others don't have. 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.

Does knowing a foreign language help hired? ›

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.

Do colleges care how many languages you speak? ›

It's great to be fluent in multiple languages just in life in general. However, unless you wish to persue a major such as international relations that would require you to speak multiple languages, it's not something colleges really look for.

Does speaking multiple languages help? ›

Enhanced cognitive abilities: While speaking multiple languages is often seen as a practical skill, research has shown that it can also have numerous cognitive benefits. For example, bilingualism has been linked to enhanced executive function, increased abstraction abilities, and improved memory skills.

Do bilinguals get hired more? ›

Yes! People who speak more than one language earn 5% to 20% more on average than those who don't. Because bilingual skills are in high demand, but not many have them, employers offer higher salaries to compete with other companies seeking the same bilingual employees.

Do employers pay more for bilingual? ›

But here is one reason for learning a foreign language: bilingual employees can earn between 5% and 20% more money per hour than those who speak only one language.

Which foreign language pays the most? ›

Chinese Language Salary in India – The Chinese (Mandarin) is the highest paid foreign language in India. Chinese speakers usually receive as much as Rs Million-plus annually. Chinese language jobs salary in India is Rs11,89,234 per year on average in December.

Which foreign language is in demand? ›

Apart from Hindi and English the top four foreign languages with the most speakers in India are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and French. Since Germany and Japan's economy has highly developed and is giving a lot of career opportunities to Indians the demand for German and Japanese languages is also high in India.

Which foreign language is best for career? ›

Here are eight languages to consider learning to access more job opportunities and develop your career:
  1. Mandarin. Mandarin is a highly sought-after language for employers because of its prevalence in the global business world. ...
  2. Hindi. ...
  3. German. ...
  4. Spanish. ...
  5. French. ...
  6. Arabic. ...
  7. Portuguese. ...
  8. 8. Japanese.
Jan 23, 2024

What language looks best on college application? ›

While any foreign language skill is good, learning Spanish, German, French, Latin, Arabic or Mandarin will be particularly useful for your college application.

Do colleges like if you speak multiple languages? ›

Yes, colleges and universities do value and appreciate applicants who have proficiency in multiple languages. Knowing multiple languages can be a valuable asset that can positively impact your college application and increase your chances of admission.

Does being multilingual help college admissions? ›

Yes, colleges like to see students who show a variety of talents and skills that set them apart from the average applicant. Most American applicants only speak English so knowing another language has a positive impact. Unfortunately, being bilingual will not make up for terrible grades and/or test scores.

Do bilinguals have higher IQ? ›

According to a historical review in "The Journal of Genetic Psychology," various researchers held these beliefs, noting a "problem of bilingualism" or the "handicapping influence of bilingualism." Following studies reported that bilinguals performed worse in IQ tests and suffered in most aspects of language development ...

What is the hardest language to learn? ›

Mandarin Chinese

Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the writing system is extremely difficult for English speakers (and anyone else) accustomed to the Latin alphabet.

Is it rare to speak 2 languages? ›

However, current estimates predict that around 43% of people are bilingual, with a further 17% being multilingual. This means that more than half of the world's population can speak more than one language fluently.

Is it worth it to learn 3 languages? ›

Speaking more than one language can improve problem-solving skills. Allowing students to think more clearly and consider many perspectives. It also increases brain plasticity. in other words, the ability of the brain to adapt and change in response to new information.

What percentage of jobs require bilingualism? ›

Despite being home to 12.4 percent of the overall U.S. working-age population, California accounted for 19.4 percent of all job ads seeking bilingual workers. Arizona displayed similar trends—accounting for just 2 percent of working-age adults, but 4 percent of bilingual job listings.

How rare is it to speak 2 languages? ›

43% of the world's population is bilingual, according to Journal of Neurolinguistics, meaning almost half of all people utilise two languages daily. 40% of the world's population is monolingual, using just one language. 17% of the world's population is multilingual, or fluent in two or more languages.

Is being bilingual a skill on a resume? ›

Listing your bilingual skills in a resume tells employers that you hold the skills they need to be successful in the role. Knowing that you can speak a second language may encourage them to continue reading your resume and may increase your chances of being asked to interview.

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