Learning a Second Language can open many new opportunities for you!
By Becky
Unless you are required to know English, French or Spanish for your job, learning a second language may seem futile. You may be thinking to yourself, “If I don’t need this in my everyday life, what’s the point?” Every language learner usually hits this road block at some point or another, so it’s important to remember that even if you aren’t interacting with English, French or Spanish speakers on a day to day basis, there are still so many invaluable benefits of learning the world’s most spoken second languages! Here are just a few...
English is the official language in 60 countries out of 196 countries in total. That’s nearly one third of the world! Also, it is estimated that about one in five people in the world know English to some degree. So, if you ever have the urge to travel, learning English will prove to be an invaluable asset on your journey. Knowing English will allow you to communicate with locals whose second or first language is also most likely English. It will allow you to navigate a city with much greater ease, as restaurants print menus in English, tour guides conduct tours in English, and almost all forms of public transportation use English to communicate with passengers. Learning English will open so many doors in terms of where you can travel comfortably and enjoyably!
Spanish qualifies as the second on the lists of languages by number of native speakers. It is estimated that more than 437 million people speak Spanish as a native language. Many transnational companies use call centers located in different Hispanic countries such as Guatemala and Costa Rica in order to serve their clients. Changes are that if you work for a big company, you will be require to speak Spanish or to be in contact with Spanish speakers. Traveling to Hispanic countries is one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Food is delicious, people are welcoming and caring about making sure you feel at home. Many places are considered a little piece of heaven on earth because of their diversity in nature, volcanoes and beaches. Family vacations and retirement await in many Hispanic countries and being able to communicate in Spanish it´s a great way to live this experience to the fullest. Meet great people while learning Spanish!
Are you someone who loves learning in general? Well, learning English or Spanish goes hand in hand with anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge of the world around them.
The majority of websites on the internet print their information in English or Spanish. So if you are someone who likes to surf the web, learning English or Spanish will certainly be of benefit to you! English is also the language of science, as 95 percent of scientific articles are written in English. For those who love to read, the name William Shakespeare should be enough to convince you that some of the world’s most eloquent and timeless literature is written in English. Learning English will allow you access to a whole range of knowledge that you were previously incapable of discovering.
For any pop culture aficionados out there, learning English can be your gateway to some of the greatest movies of all time. It’s no secret that Hollywood makes the world’s highest grossing films, and obviously these films are in English. Any real movie lover knows that the only way to truly experience the greatness of a film is to watch it in its native language, as so much is lost in dubbing and subtitles. Learning English for the sake of watching more movies will provide you with endless hours of entertainment as well as a closer look into the humor and ways of life of Western culture. Not to mention, watching movies can be a great tool for learning the language, as you can hear how natives actually sound and the pace at which they speak.
If you’re more of a music buff, then you don’t need to be told that some of the world’s most popular music is in English. The Beatles? Adele? Michael Jackson? If you’re looking to expand your music collection or understand the meaning of the catchy lyrics you’re always humming, then learning English will certainly be of value to you.
Salsa Music, Pop Latino, Flamenco and more
Let’s be honest, we all want to shake our bodies when we hear Shakira, Chayanne, Ricky Martin, Celia Cruz, Marc Antony or even Will Smith practicing Spanish while singing and dancing. There is a true fact that when we incorporate a physical movement in our vocabulary, something that remind us or help us to record new words, we are indeed using all our body, mind, brain and soul to learn a language. Music is a great way to get it done! Music is in the blood of the Hispanic culture and it is contagious. Let’s start singing and dancing! Way to learn Spanish!
Romance and Language
French is one of the most romantic languages in the world. Think France, Tower, lights, wine, romantic dinner and water. Nice! And… romantic, smart and fun conversation in French. It’s not just that amazing trip to France. We want to connect with that romantic spark and being able to have a conversation in a nice French restaurant, coffee place or just while we are enjoying the most romantic scenarios of France talking with the natives of France. We want to flirt in french we are shopping. Yeah I am in love and all but I still want my discounts and coupons while I am shopping in France! I want to ask for directions in French and have a small conversation with our French driver and the locals. Love is in the air of French and I need to speak French out loud!
So although learning English, French and Spanish can sometimes feel overwhelming and exhausting, especially if you are not in it for career benefits, it is clear that it can be an asset in so many other ways. Learning online with GOTALKTO is a great way to focus on the aspect of the language that most interests you. If you have no desire to learn business terms and would much rather talk about the next great action flick coming out of Hollywood, then your professor can easily cater to this request. Try a free trial lesson online first and then get hooked on studying the world’s most valuable languages.