English speaking people are particularly lucky. In today’s world, English is the main language of business. Many of us have never bothered to learn another language.
However, it appears that there are many reasons why we should expand our horizons and learn a second language.
People love to communicate and it is so much more rewarding when you can do so in the other person’s own language. It makes the other person feel more welcomed and eager to help. People like it when others have taken the time and effort to learn their language. English speakers take for granted that others will speak their language, so we don’t realize how others feel when we don’t speak theirs.
When you learn another’s language, you can immerse yourself in their culture and learn so much more about other parts of the world. Traveling on holiday in countries where you can speak the language and understand their culture is so much more rewarding than when you have to find an interpreter or carry around your phrasebook.
Research tells us that learning another language comes with cognitive benefits including improved memory and problem-solving skills. A second language could also help you to get that coveted promotion or overseas transfer. It even makes learning a third language easier as the brain develops neural pathways for learning a language.
As we get older it becomes more difficult to learn a second language, but there’s no reason we can’t do it. There are plenty of resources on the internet, and once you get going you can find video and written content on subjects that interest you while developing fluency.
What language would you like to learn?