Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Arts Entertainment

9 Reasons You Should Study A Foreign Language

"The more languages you know, the more you are human." – Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk

Natalie Jane

Sep 11, 2018

Kansas State University

Pexels

As somebody going on their tenth year of studying a foreign language, I can say this, there are no disadvantages to learning a second language, only advantages. One of these advantages being, it will undoubtedly change your entire life. If you still need a little more convincing, check out these nine reasons you should add "study a foreign language" to your to-do list this year.

1. It improves your English.

You may not believe me, but yes, learning a new language can actually improve your English skills. As a student of Spanish, I have learned more about grammar rules, specifically conjugation (how many people can say they actually know what that means in English?), through the process of picking up a second language.

2. Travel destinations are limitless.

If you're a free spirit at heart and plan to travel internationally in the future, it's not a bad idea to learn a new language. Not only will you feel more comfortable in a foreign country, but the travel opportunities become endless.

3. It creates more job opportunities!

One of the most practical reasons to learn a second language? Money. The acquirement of a second language is incredibly marketable in today's world, opening many doors for those that are bilingual, including pay raises.

4. It's a great way to meet new people.

One of the best ways to meet new people is through learning a second language. Not only can you meet more people with your knowledge of new languages, but the people you meet along your journey of studying language quickly become friends that share a very unique and specific experience with yourself.

5. Not only do you learn the language, but you learn about the culture.

Many times when committing to learn a second language you think about learning new words and how to speak to other people using those words. What many of us don't realize is the culture that comes with learning a language. Not only will you pick up the language, but you will become aware of the cultural aspects that accompany the language.

6. It opens the door to an entire new world of popculture.

As a music lover myself, one of the most exciting parts of studying Spanish was realizing the entire world of music I had yet to discover. Once you begin to understand the language better, you can immerse yourself in a new world of pop culture including movies, music, and books!

7. Language will never be a barrier.

Once you finally learn a second language, the language barrier will never again be an excuse to not do what you want to do!

8. Your worldview will change.

You will learn the language. You will learn about yourself. And your worldview WILL change. It happens.

9. Bragging rights.

After conquering that second language, there's nothing better than those well deserved bragging rights.

Report this Content

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

Student Life

The 12 Stages Of Course Registration, As Told By "Friends"

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

The State University of New York at Stony Brook

6850

YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less

registration

Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

Florida International University

303110

Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause

StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less

Entertainment

13 Times April Ludgate Perfectly Explained College

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

2167

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

april ludgate

Recommended for you

9 Reasons You Should Study A Foreign Language

"The more languages you know, the more you are human." – Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk

In This Article:

1. It improves your English.

2. Travel destinations are limitless.

3. It creates more job opportunities!

4. It's a great way to meet new people.

5. Not only do you learn the language, but you learn about the culture.

6. It opens the door to an entire new world of popculture.

7. Language will never be a barrier.

8. Your worldview will change.

9. Bragging rights.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?

What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

Told through Parks & Recreation GIFs

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Arts Entertainment

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter