Getting Lost In Translation | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Getting Lost In Translation

The benefits of learning a foreign language.

30
Getting Lost In Translation
theeducationcafe.files.wordpress.com

Recently, a friend of mine told me he would not be signing up for Spanish again next semester. He complained that it was too hard, took up too much of his time and followed on the assumption that everyone must eventually learn English so there was no need. Most public secondary school systems require at least two years of foreign language instruction to graduate; for some, this is the extent of their foreign language education.

I took a moment to reflect on what five years of French has meant to me, and did a little bit of research on what knowledge of a foreign language can mean for the rest of the world.

First, it actually can improve your employment chances and provide economic benefits. According to The Economist, while half the world’s population may speak English by 2050, "even a 2 percent annual 'salary premium' can result in 6-digit returns in retirement."

This is not all. A study at the University of Chicago has proven bilingualism promotes long-term decision making, and removes an individual's tendency for "loss aversion," that is, it lessens the focus on the present to process decisions that may provide benefits in the long term. In addition, a psychological study determined that on average, children studying foreign languages perform better on standardized tests in math, reading and vocabulary than children who are monolingual.

All these scientific studies aside, however, there is something else about learning another language that goes quite unnoticed. It provides no monetary or cerebral benefit, but perhaps an emotional one. For those of you who have never studied another language, you only express your thoughts and your feelings in your first language, naturally. But one of the most fascinating things about foreign languages is their ability to express things in a way you never have.

Take this translation in French, for example. The English “I miss you” is “tu me manques.” Our French-to-English translation says it means “I miss you,” but if you take this phrase apart, it literally translates to “you are missing from me.” This distinction is so powerful; isn’t it true that when you miss someone, it is more accurate to say they are missing from you? As if they are a piece of you that isn’t present anymore? To hear expression in these different ways just makes humanity better able to relate to itself.

Learning a language other than your native tongue will mean more fulfilling travel experiences, more books to read, more knowledge to gain, more people to meet and more friends to make. Whether you place value on your future salary or your potential for cultural immersion, knowledge of a foreign language might very well be your most meaningful asset.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

178039
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

5184
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451133
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22571
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments