Reasons to
Learn a Foreign Language
Do you speak
foreign language?
Have you ever found
learning a language
useful?
Do you speak foreign language? Have you ever found learning a language useful? More than half of population speaks bilingually. Apparently, it is a high time for people to learn languages. Though learning a foreign language is generally considered a tough deal, it is undeniable that acquiring foreign language becomes more and more crucial to people. There are three reasons to learn a foreign language; it can not only help you with your career, but develop your brain function and establish friendships with people abroad.
First of all, more and more companies need the employees who are featured bilingual or even trilingual with the international business developing. Thus, learning foreign language is a worthy working skill to develop and help you get a job or a promotion. According to the research from TOEIC Taiwan general agency in 2015, over a half of the respondent companies agree that they consider the international talent critical. What’s more, the research indicates that the largest attribute of an international talent is -- foreign language ability. Besides, companies give priority to bilingual speakers. Companies used to set a standard of well English ability, judging from the interviewer’s TOEIC or GEPT score. Once an interviewer grades more than others, he wins higher opportunity to get the offer. Such phenomenon also happens when competing for the promotion. Without doubt, companies tend to give the opportunity to whom be able to communicate in foreign languages.
Additionally, learning foreign language enhances the brain in concentration and communication ability. The lecture which is given by Mia Nacamulli (2015) shows that people who learn foreign languages improve their thinking and concentrating ability. Furthermore, they own the capacity to refine their expression, talking in a more proper way than those who only speak their mother tongue. During the same lecture, it points out that learning foreign language increases the density of grey matter, where develops the neurons and the synapses, the two parts of brain that allow the brain to work in a more efficient measure. Besides, when people switching between languages, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain’s part that dominates the problem solving and seizes useful information, becomes active. Hence, our brain function improved by utilizing different languages, and people could definitely enjoy these advantages as we set out to learn.
Last but not least, people are able to make friends in other countries with fluent foreign language ability. Former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela (n.d.) said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Indeed, as long as you learn others’ language, it is more smoothly to befriend them. Interestingly, when Taiwanese hear a foreigner speak Mandarin Chinese, they always give out a thrilling smile and open a conversation with welcoming words. In contrary, in French, even if you, as a foreign consumer, gets into a petite café, the waiter will not serve you friendly until you greet and say “Bonjour!”. Therefore, if you want to make friends with foreigners, speaking his language to whom you want to know is the best strategy.
To sum up, the foreign language is not only about communication, but closely associate with our life. Learning a foreign language enables people to broaden their horizons in various aspects. When it comes to the working place, the bilingual speaker scores more and outstand the competitors. As to the thinking ability, people do advance the concentration and communication ability through acquiring languages. Moreover, for people who are eager to get familiar with foreign friends, wouldn’t it be a good idea to equip with a foreign language and impress others? All in all, learning foreign languages benefits people in surprisingly ways, and is also worthwhile to make effort to it.
Reference
Hami書城(2017-08-02)。瞄準職場語言力 【封面故事-專案經理】
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McCarthy, A. (2020). Rise in food delivery: Consumer trends on ordering in.
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https://get.doordash.com/blog/rise-in-food-delivery-and-why-it-is-popular
CHUN SHIN LIMITED (2015). TOEIC Taiwan general agency
http://122.147.41.155/img_report_2015/2015report.pdf
Ted ed, Mia Nacamulli (2015)。學習雙語對大腦的好處
Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMmOLN5zBLY
2022.03.16