8 Great Reasons to Learn New Languages

The Importance of Languages

Languages are one of the most crucial aspects of our lives. They are vital in any culture and tradition. Languages allow us to communicate with others, build communities, and pass down our histories. Languages allow us to express ourselves. Whether writing, speaking, or reading, we use language to communicate our thoughts, ideas, and desires. How we use languages with various dictions, speak to who we are, and help explain our behaviors. For example, how Americans speak English distinguishes them from Australians, English, and other Anglophone countries. As an American of Congolese descent who has never visited the Congo, learning the native languages, such as Lingala, Tshiluba, Kikongo, and Swahili, helped me learn about Congolese multiple identities. It allows me to understand the nuances between the numerous cultures in the Congo. It also brought me closer to my extended family. 

When speaking Lingala with my aunts and uncles, the feeling of distance is broken. They no longer see me as a distant family member who has nothing in common with them. Because I speak my native languages, being physically away from them no longer matters. We can have intimate conversations. Instead of having 30-second conversations that include “hellos,” we have lengthy discussions that have allowed me to know more about my family history, traditions, and cultures. As a diaspora kid, being able to speak my native language helped me build a sense of belonging to Congolese culture. I know that when I travel to the Congo, there will be factors that will display my foreignness; however, the fact that I speak the native language will help me integrate into my family and the larger Congolese community, hence why I advocate for travelers, especially new travelers, to welcome the idea of acquiring new languages. 

Why Learn a New Language? 

When you read old books or watch movies or shows like Bridgerton, a person was said to be accomplished if they spoke multiple languages. There was an emphasis on learning new languages because people understood the power it held when you could understand what someone else was saying. Hence, agencies like the FBI, CIA, or even the State Department invest in people who speak multiple languages or are interested in learning critical languages. 

However, people have become lazy because they know English is a global language and will find English speakers wherever they go. They will be able to get by without knowing the local languages. This level of laziness and arrogance is not new. As an African, the arrogance of people feeling like when they go abroad, others should accommodate them by speaking the language they understand reminds me of how Europeans who “discovered” Africa, Asia, or the New World did not care about learning the natives’ languages. Instead, they imposed their languages on the natives to accommodate themselves, leading to many misconceptions and the trouble we see today. For this reason, as the number of international travelers increases and young people are in charge of mingling and integrating into new cultures, there needs to be an increase in the number of people learning new languages. Here are 8 reasons why you should learn a new language.

8 Reasons to Learn New Languages

1. Expand Cultural Understanding

The first reason to learn a new language is to expand your cultural understanding. Learning a new language gives you insights into the different cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking of those who speak that language, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic worldview. As a traveler, your goal should not just be going to tourist places and posting them on Instagram. For many travelers who seek a more profound experience, integrating into the local culture is part of their travel journey. Hence, speaking the language helps you expand your cultural understanding and ensure you are culturally aware of the places you visit. 

I credit my trip to China in 2017 with helping me grow in self-confidence, improve my budgeting skills, and expand my cultural understanding of Chinese culture. Before traveling to China, I knew some of Chinese history. When I took Chinese language lessons, I was fascinated to see the connections between the Chinese language and Lingala, my native language. Chinese and Lingala have words that can mean different things depending on the various tones. Mandarin has 4 tones, where the word “MA” can mean four other things, and the characters are different when you write in Chinese characters. Although Lingala does not have characters, the tones we use for certain words have different meanings. For example, the word “Mabele” can mean land or sand and also mean breast, depending on the tone. Having this language relatability ensured that I was careful when speaking Mandarin in China. Knowing that one word can mean several things made me practice and show effort in ensuring that I was communicating effectively with my hosts. 

Being able to communicate with my host in China also helped them see how dedicated I was to respecting their cultures and languages. They, too, became interested in my culture as a Congolese-American. I could tell them about the similarities between our languages and teach them my native language. This cultural understanding ensured that we engaged in mutual cultural exchange, where I could integrate into their culture, and they integrated into mine. There is no more excellent feeling than speaking someone else’s native language in their land when they were not expecting it. When I interact with people in Chinese, I will either get a bargain on the prices or someone else will offer to pay for my items. I did not just experience this in China, but in many places I traveled to. When I was in Belgium, I would use some words Wallonian used that are not known outside of Wallonia or Belgium; people will be curious as to how I knew that. They became interested in me because I showed I had a cultural understanding of their country through learning the nuanced Belgian French, which allowed them to welcome me into their countries, and I made friends that way. 

2. Career Opportunities

Second, you should learn a new language because it opens up career opportunities. Proficiency in multiple languages can give you a competitive edge in the global job market in international business, translation, diplomacy, and tourism. Reasons why there are thousands of scholarships the government funds for Americans to learn new languages and use them to work in the government. However, the government is not the only place where having a second or third language will give you an advantage. Almost every business in the world has global reach. The international job market calls for individuals to have international experiences and immerse themselves in other cultures. One way to show you can immerse yourself in different cultures is by acquiring new languages.  

Bilinguals or polyglots gain multiple benefits when it comes to career opportunities. First, they can work in any industry. They can also be mediators between one country and another, whether in the government, public, or private sector. Suppose you are an engineer who speaks a different language, instead of your company hiring an interpreter. In that case, they can use you to communicate in the language they need help with, which gives you leverage to argue for higher pay because you will serve multiple purposes in the company. Hence, bilinguals earn 5% to 20% more than those who only speak one language. Another benefit is that bilinguals show your cultural sensitivity and cultural understanding, which can help you foster many relationships and make you a hot commodity in the job market. Therefore, regardless of your field of study, add another language to open yourself up to endless career opportunities. 

3. Cognitive Benefits

Another benefit of learning a new language is that it strengthens cognitive skills. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, people who speak two languages perform better on attention tests and concentrate better. Speaking more than one language gives you mental flexibility. Switching from one language to another gives your brain an exercise that makes it agile and enables problem-solving skills. Another cognitive benefit of learning and mastering a new language is that it allows you to multitask and improves your memory, delaying cognitive decline in your later years. Speaking another language also gives you more gray matter, essential for a healthier brain, and more white matter, allowing you to process information faster. 

Learning a new language has cognitive benefits for brain health, cultural understanding, and career opportunities. The mental skills you gain, such as attention to detail, concentration, and problem-solving, allow you to integrate better into your host country. When you speak different languages and embody the cognitive skills mentioned, you can understand the nuances of the cultures you integrate into. Your brain is skilled in comprehending your surroundings because speaking a new language trains it to be flexible. When you move to France and speak French, your brain has an easier time adapting to France because it can twitch to formulating words in French. Switching from language to language quickly is not a skill many people have, allowing you to be unique and marketable in the global job market. 

4. Enhance Travel Experiences & Safety

The most significant reason to learn a new language, especially for travel enthusiasts, is that it enhances your travel experience and adds another layer to your safety abroad. First, it helps you not to feel lost while being abroad. Your ability to read signs will help you find your way around the city without needing too much help or making yourself a target to those who target international tourists. A previous post about how to be safe in Paris discussed how thieves look for tells that demonstrate to them you are a foreigner and you are lost, and they use those tells to target you. Knowing the language of the local community where you are visiting, even if you know the basics, can prevent you from becoming a target. Combining your preliminary research to prepare for your travel trip with your language skills ensures you stay alert and aware of your surroundings. 

Moreover, speaking the local language enhances your experiences by providing more profound connections with the locals, and you gain a greater understanding of your destination through interactions. Locals get very excited when they see visitors who try to speak their languages. As mentioned above, with the example of my time in China and Belgium, by showing that I was willing to learn their languages or the nuance in their diction, as in the case of Belgium, locals were happy to speak to me, help me when I needed something and recommend the best foods and hidden treasures. Your engagement with your local enhances your cultural understanding away from the theoretical things you might learn about a place from school or through the internet. Another benefit of learning the language is to ensure when shopping. Some vendors hike the prices of items because you are a foreigner. During my experiences abroad, I noticed that when I spoke Italian, Chinese, or Belgium French, I would get a bargain or an extra gift as opposed to my friend who only spoke English because interacting with the locals in their language told them I was interested in their cultures and them. I did not have to break the bank on a shopping spree as a recompense. 

5. Connection with Global Communities

The best reason to learn a new language is to foster connections with global communities. The world is more interconnected than ever. We consume other people’s cultures through TikTok videos, movies, music, and traveling. Korean drama is now very popular, and Netflix provides us with many international films and TV series that we, as a community, know about other people’s famous stars and music styles and are open to embracing different cultures. Through learning a language, we seal that connection. The cultures we see on TV are no longer those of other people but are our own. We embed ourselves in different cultures while respecting that we do not own them, facilitating connections with people worldwide. It helps build an international network, friendships with people from other sides of the globe, and partnerships, whether professional or romantic. 

One of the things I love about my friend group is that they are diverse. When I speak to my French friends, we talk in French; with my Chinese friends, we speak Chinese. With my Brazilian friends, I dabble in Portuguese. Learning multiple languages has allowed me to build friendships with people from diverse places and even opened me up to starting new relationships with people whose languages I do not know yet. Because I have been open to learning a few languages, I am open to learning even when I am in a place or meeting someone from a place whose language I do not know. This attitude has helped me in my study abroad applications because I have a sense of global citizenship. 

6. Personal Growth

One of the great benefits of learning a new language is it helps improve your personal growth. When you consider the previous benefits we discussed above, you can see how, when you combine these benefits, you will grow as a person. Acquiring a new language challenges and enriches the mind, which benefits your personal growth. When you go on a journey to learn a new language, you grow because you earn a new soul. Acquiring knowledge in any field helps your personal development. You know something some people do not know, which puts you in a different class. The same is true with learning languages. Not many Congolese Americans speak Chinese, but being among the few boosts my self-confidence because I know I have something only a few people have. 

Moreover, considering the cognitive benefits you gain from learning a new language, you can easily see your personal growth. Having a flexible mind, being able to concentrate, and having good problem-solving skills contribute to self-growth. The skills and traits you develop through learning new languages significantly impact your life. Learning a new language boosts your creativity, ensures good memory skills, and allows you to communicate with people of diverse backgrounds, enhancing your network and helping you advance personally and professionally. Because as a bilingual or a polyglot, you build cultural awareness and possess cultural understanding skills, you demonstrate that you are a global citizen, enabling you to attract jobs from different fields and elevate yourself financially. The self-growth you earn when you embark on a journey to acquire a new language is unmatched. Hence, it is another excellent reason to learn a new language. 

7. Access to Diverse Literature and Media

When I applied for the Gilman Program and needed to defend why I wanted to study abroad in France, I talked about how, as a future policymaker and policy analyst, I wanted to read literature in French and produce literature in France. As someone passionate about African affairs, I wanted to be able to produce literature in French for francophone countries, and that is why I wanted to improve my French. The program I was going to was all in French, preparing me to listen to a lecture and take exams in French. This was one of the main reasons I received the grant. Mastering a language well enough to produce literature in a set language is an excellent benefit for those who want to be great scholars. Proficiency in a new language provides access to a wealth of literature, films, and music from different cultures, broadening your horizons and enriching entertainment options.

Sometimes, when I see a trailer for a show on Netflix that is a foreign film or TV series, I tend to stop watching when I see subtitles or when the movie is translated into English, but you can see the delay between the actress’s mouth and the audio. Not being able to fully understand the context of a movie and grasp what exactly is being said disconnects me from the movie. When trying to read subtitles, you are not paying attention to the movie and missing out. Although some people learn new languages through films and TV shows, there is nothing more rewarding when you watch a movie in a foreign language and understanding the film without subtitles and translation. I am reading Pride and Prejudice in French and gaining another understanding. Hence, to facilitate your desire to interact with foreign literature and media medium, learn a new language.

8. Preserve Language Heritage

Lastly, an excellent reason to learn languages is to preserve the language heritage. As mentioned above, speaking Lingala helped me foster a deeper relationship with my family in the Congo. However, my mother did not solely teach me that language to communicate with family members. One of the reasons parents, especially parents who raised kids outside of the country of origin, impose the naive language on set kids is to preserve the language heritage. Learning a language spoken by ancestors or relatives can help preserve cultural heritage and ensure that languages with smaller speaker populations continue to thrive.

Most of us African kids, our native languages are not taught in schools. Because of colonialism, being educated meant being able to speak the language of the colonizers. Therefore, the primary languages African kids learn at school are English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish, depending on who colonized that set country. Our native languages are taught at home, and there is no formal education in set languages. Although things are changing now, and some governments are including native languages as administrative languages, like Swahili in Rwanda, we still do not have formal educational materials to learn Lingala. Due to this reality, many African parents force their kids to learn the local language and teach it to them at home to preserve our cultural heritage. We can then teach our kids, and our kids can pass it down, ensuring that the language does not die.

Learning A New Language with Rosetta Stone

Now that we have discussed the benefits of learning new languages let’s discuss one site that will help you learn whatever language you are interested in: Rosetta Stone. The 30-year-old language learning company has helped learners acquire new languages at every level. Its founder’s goal was to ensure people did not just learn the language but immerse themselves in the cultures of the language and the people from the places they were learning about. It offers interactive activities that resemble day-to-day scenarios and audio from native speakers, giving you a natural feel of a language, how it is used, and when to say certain things at different interactions. Let’s say you are at a grocery store in France, so how would you ask for help finding sugar or butter? It helps you navigate different scenarios that give you the confidence to communicate with locals and build cultural understanding. 

With Rosetta Stone, language learners are constantly supported. You learn at your own pace, and the instructions ensure you can use words in various contexts. Many opportunities exist to practice and build fluency in any language you learn. You also receive feedback, enabling you to track your progress, build confidence in your language understanding, and check if you pronounce words correctly. With live coaching and interacting with native speakers, you gain the confidence to converse in your newly acquired language. As a travel enthusiast, being able to practice with Rosetta Stone before traveling can boost your confidence to engage with local communities when you travel. Rosetta Stone provides you with 25 languages to choose from. You can choose to learn all 25 or only the language you need for your destinations. You can learn German, Russian or even English! Some English speakers think that because they speak English, they do not need to learn English again, but they fail to recognize that different Anglophone nations talk differently. There are words we use in the United States, for example, that they do not use in England and vice versa. If you want to build cultural awareness about the UK, you can take an English course on Rosetta that will enable you not to be lost when visiting our friends from the other side of the pond. 

You can subscribe to a lifetime plan where you have access to learn all 25 languages. For those of us who make travel plans and need a quick way to learn the basics before traveling, the 3-month plan offers a 12-month plan, giving you plenty of time to learn at your pace and prepare yourself for your new adventures. Rosetta Stone cares about building proficient language speakers. There is no need to rush or get frustrated. As learners, regardless of your language levels, Rosetta will work with you to ensure an excellent learning experience. Hence, Rosetta serves individuals, schools, and businesses who want to reap the benefits that acquiring a new language ensures. 

To conclude, you do not need to learn a new language to travel. However, learning a new language will open more doors for you beyond your travel goals. Acquiring new languages provides many benefits, including building cultural understanding, enhancing travel experience, and providing safety when traveling. Learning and mastering a new language offers many cognitive benefits, such as giving your brain flexibility to learn and memorize things, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Through languages, you can build networks with people worldwide, making you marketable in any career field and increasing your earning potential. One language learning program that will ensure you acquire a new language and build proficiency is Rosetta Stone. It is flexible, provides engaging materials, and the live coaching ensures you build proficiency in any of the 25 languages it offers. Whether you want to learn a new language to travel abroad, embark on a new career, or just for fun, it has everything to advance your language-learning adventure. 

As always, thank you for reading! Do not forget to like, comment, and share.

Until next time, have fun learning!

xoxo,

Cy