Learning a new language

In this article, we look at the benefits of learning a new language and how to get started.

How many languages are you able to speak? Does being a polyglot, multilingual, or trilingual mean anything to you?

Here are a few definitions and statistics.

• Polyglot – is a person who can speak several languages (less than 1% of the world population can speak 5 languages fluently)
• Trilingual – an adjective that describes the ability to speak three languages (13% of the world population can speak three languages)
• Monolingual – able to express yourself in just one language (40% of the world population)
• Bilingual – able to use two languages (43% of the world population)
• Multilingual – describes multiple languages (3% of the world population speak more than 4 languages).

Many people find the thought of learning a new language intimidating, but once you examine your motivation and evaluate the reasons for wanting to learn a new language, you’ll find it’s not that hard at all.

“Speak a new language so that the world will be a new world.”

– Rumi

Not many countries have a single official language. Most have two and some have more, and countries such as China, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain also have local and regional languages. In these countries, residents might have to learn more than one language to communicate effectively.

 

Countries with more than one official language

• India has sixteen official languages
• South Africa has 11 and they’re thinking of adding a twelfth – sign language
• Palau has five
• Austria, Bahrain, Spain, and Singapore all have four
• Mexico and the United States have no official languages at all, but they’re home to people who speak several languages.
  

Language and career advancement

Globalization is driving the need for multilingual skills. As more companies find customers or suppliers across the globe, they look for professionals who can talk the language within the supply chain. The number of US job postings that required bilingual applicants more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, a clear indication of the growth in demand.

The ability to speak more than one language will set you apart from your job market competitors. Language skills are highly sought after, appearing in the top eight skills requirements across occupations. As one would expect where scarce skills exist, employers are prepared to pay higher salaries.

You don’t have to travel to find a foreign language speaker. In the United States, more than 60 million residents speak a language other than English at home, so if you’ve decided to improve your career potential and learn another language, you should find a native language speaker on whom to practice your skills.

Whatever career you enter, learning a new language will help you up the career ladder.

 

 

“A man who knows two languages is worth two men.”

-French Proverb

If you’re bored with your everyday job and you want a career change, why not consider a career that requires you you use your acquired language skills.

Take a look at some good careers that will require you to speak a second language

 

Study Abroad Coordinator

If you’ve had the experience of studying abroad and think it changed your life, perhaps you want to help others live out their dreams.

Study abroad coordinators are the university’s go-to person for information about study abroad exchange programs and opportunities.

 

Private Tutor or Online Teacher

If you love children and you love the idea of interacting with them on a daily basis, you might want to consider a career in teaching a second language.

Being a private tutor or online teacher comes with a lot of flexibility to set your own hours. To many people a career in teaching can be very fulfilling and making a positive contribution by mentoring is a rewarding incentive.

 

Translator

Translators will often be required to translate documents, speeches or various types of texts from a second language into their native language.

Many organizations require translators for all types of reasons and with the ever-expanding global markets, these jobs will be in demand for many more years to come.

 

International Development Program Officer

This role is mainly focused on helping develop communities around the world. There are opportunities in governmental as well as non-governmental organizations that will require your skills to address issues like health and sanitation, economic development and more. Some roles will require some technical or administrative skills but as international development officers mainly work abroad, it is imperative that you have enough language skills to communicate with the locals.

 

International Sales Manager

If you’re in the field of sales, to expand your horizons you might want to consider learning a new language.

International sales positions will require you to travel abroad for negotiations and various business tasks. This will require language skills and cultural competency to avoid offending anyone.

 

“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”

‒ Ludwig Wittgenstein

• Speaking multiple languages makes you smarter – research has shown that learning a new language enhances your critical thinking skills, can make you a better problem solver, and enhances your memory.
• There is nothing like learning a new language to connect you with other cultures. Once you know the language you can read the literature, watch the movies and understand the people.
• Learning a new language can also give you a new perspective of your own culture and people. When you learn how others live, think, and behave you may get a better understanding and appreciation of your values or you may decide that some aspects of your culture could be improved.
• In learning about a new culture, you are likely to become more accepting of others. You’ll better appreciate their opinions and values and you’ll become a lot more flexible. When you can speak another’s language, you’ll learn a lot more about them and you will see things from another perspective enabling you to enter into new global spheres.
• Learning a new language and culture will open new networking opportunities, allowing you to meet new people and develop new friendships.
  • When you learn a new language, new neural networks form in your brain which is why there are multiple cognitive benefits associated with learning a new language. Research suggests that multilingual people have better decision-making skills. When you learn a new language, you don’t just learn the vocabulary and grammar, you also start to pick up the hidden meaning and colloquial expressions. Because of all the practice, multilingual people become more confident in the decisions that they make.
  • Multilingual people perform better in other academic subjects. According to the research, the higher cognitive skills of multilingual ensure better marks in standardized math exams, as well as comprehension, reading, and vocabulary than those achieved by their monolingual colleagues. Schools across the world recognize this fact, which is why most schools include a foreign language in the curriculum.
  • Research shows that using multiple languages delays the onset of cognitive decline.

“You live a new life for every language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.”

― Czech proverb

We all know how easily children can learn a new language, but that doesn’t mean that it is impossible for adults to quickly learn a new language and have fun doing it. Here are some tips for a quick and structured learning experience.

• Set realistic goals: If your goals are unattainable you will become overwhelmed and you’re likely to give up.
  • This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t set challenges. You may want to set your goal with an upper and lower limit.  Reaching attainable but challenging goals is in itself a rewarding experience.
  • The goals must be measurable so there is no doubt when you achieve the outcome. A good goal would be – this week I will learn 25 new words in French or challenge yourself to learn between 25 and 40 words.
• Practice your pronunciation often. You won’t gain confidence or fluency until you can properly pronounce words. Without confidence, you will never be comfortable speaking the language.
• Understand why you have decided to learn a new language, and what the underlying motivation is. Think of the learning experience as a pathway to new experiences.
• Know that travel will never be the same again. Once you understand a new language, you can speak to others in the language, watch movies and read books in a foreign language.
• Find a foreign friend
  • The best way to learn a new language is to find someone who speaks it. They can help you by pointing out where your pronunciation could do with improvement.
  • Alternatively, a friend who is learning the same language as you could offer you company as you learn, and the two of you can encourage one another and track your progress together.
• You will make mistakes. Don’t let it worry you. Mistakes offer us useful learning opportunities. Use your mistakes to understand what went wrong. In doing so, you’ll ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.
• Arm yourself with the learning materials and use proven methods of learning.
• Take the time to learn about the culture.
• The secret to learning a new language is to consistently spend time with it. Find time every single day even when you don’t feel like it.
  • Read books, listen to podcasts, and the radio and watch, television and movies in the foreign language whenever you can. With enough input, you’ll eventually get there.
• Learn the phrases that you will use rather than a pointless list of phrases seldom used in everyday language. In this way, you can quickly start speaking the language and can grow your vocabulary

 

Here is some excellent advice from polyglot experts around the world to help you on your journey to learning a new language

 

Simon Ager – Omniglot

• You don’t have to understand all the words in the conversation. You can fill in the gaps.
• Don’t worry about mistakes. Learn from them.

 

Olly Richards – speaker of 8 languages

• Learning a new language requires consistent daily practice.
• Start speaking in the language sooner rather than later.

 

Teddy Nee – speaker of 6 languages

• Learn phrases that you will use in everyday life. This will allow you to start using what you know.
• Use the language as often as possible. Read, listen and talk.

 

 John Fotheringham – BA Linguistics

• Know why you want to learn the language
• Actively communicate and listen to native speakers of the language.

Anthony Metivier

Many people ask, “How long does it take to learn a new language?” I believe the answer should be that the journey never ends.

 

 

“Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides.”

-Rita Mae Brown

Learning a new language isn’t easy, but with some structure and the right set of tools, you can make it happen and quickly too. Language, more than any other learning experience, requires practice, practice, and more practice, but the benefits are well worth the time it takes to become fluent.

When you speak a language you get to immerse yourself in the culture of the people. You can now read their literature and watch their performing arts. You get to see things from a very different perspective, broadening your understanding of the world at large. When you first start to communicate with another in their own language you will experience a feeling of achievement.

In the global economy, your career prospects improve with every new language that you learn. Employers highly value their employees’ ability to speak foreign languages. In addition, multilingualism is associated with higher intellectual agility. The cognitive benefits of learning a language far outweigh the effort that goes into it.