Often in America we grow up being taught Spanish or French without much thought. Spanish is the first language that school districts choose to teach and it is the second most widely spoken language in the U.S. beaten only by English. Therefore it isn’t a surprise that it is the most commonly second language and is not particularly lucrative in the future.
So what is lucrative? Think of the hardest language you can and it is probably will make you money in the future. You can guess that that means more time commitment and a longer time for you to be fluent. I will always recommend learning a language that has a different base you’re your primary language because it will expand how many languages you’ll be able to learn. Here are five other reasons:
- It makes you smarter for longer
A study in 2012 by two professors from Northwestern University found that learning a second language later in life slows cognitive decay and helps children under 7 years old adjust to changes in environment. This means you can stay you longer and can help young children learn how to adjust faster. Learning a difficult language with little connection to English, such as Russian or Chinese, helps form different paths in your brain. Even better. No matter what learning a language helps you, but the more difficult it is the more your brain works and the stronger your brain gets. I don’t know about you but less screaming and crying children would be a great gift to the world. (article) - It helps you with your attention
The same study as above also found that learning a second language helps with attention span because your brain gets used to switching between languages and by doing so increases the task-switching capabilities. Think of the possibilities, I can see myself finally making it through a parks and rec episode without getting bored. I will succeed one day. - It helps with getting a job
If everyone speaks Spanish/French it stands to reason that speaking a language other than Spanish/French will stand out in job applications. When you are in a competitive field (see business admin) then having a foreign language under your belt can increase your chances of getting a job. In fact CNN reported recently that close to 25,000 jobs are opening each year for interpreters and bilingual positions. Imagine the possibilities. - You get to travel more often
If you want to travel, which most people do (see instagram photos of pretty much any college aged girl) then speaking a language is one of the best ways to be able to. From teaching English to translating for foreign emissaries there are so many different ways that speaking another language can help you see the world. On that note learning a language is a great reason to go study abroad, which I will be talking about a lot in the future. If you have ever wanted to see Italy or Shanghai then the most direct way to get there is to learn the language. - It is easier than ever
Say you are in college in your junior year and you want to study abroad for a summer in France. You know that it is all you want but the issue is that you don’t speak French. With technology as it is today with the internet, you can learn a language faster and in more detail then those in the pre-internet age. There is literally thousands of apps and websites focused on helping you learn a language. I will be doing a post reviewing the best language websites this week so keep an eye out for it.
While learning a language takes time and focus, it is worth it in the end. You will be able to better connect to another culture and learn to appreciate learning one of the top three most difficult languages in the world from childhood. Consider taking the leap into a new language. You might just find yourself.
-Heather
