Today I’d like to
write about something very important to me. I’d like to talk about learning
language, because as a member of the up-and-coming generation of young
professionals, I can see the dire need for this particular ability. I feel
personally that knowing more than one language is a hot skill, it makes you
more desirable. I know it is not a new skill, and it’s not something that has
just become wildly popular, if anything it may be dying out a bit. The fact is,
I find most people are not willing to dedicate the time to language learning.
Yes, it is work, and yes it can be difficult but in the long run if it does one
thing (which it often does more than just one) it is benefitting you. Hopefully
though, your language learning can also benefit others too.
Language is incredible, it’s a
means for communication. It gives you a way to reach out to people you may have
not been able to reach before. In addition to being able to have contact with
people who speak that language; you also become culturally aware (at least a
little bit, anyway…) of the people who speak the language you are learning, and
not only that but some people (unfortunately not all) become culturally aware
of the world around them. I often find people who are willing to dedicate time
to learning a language are much more liable to dedicate time to learning about
other cultures, regardless of whether they know the specific language of the
culture they have chosen to research.
Learning a language absolutely
makes you an academic, you have a heightened awareness for people around you.
Often times once you’ve learned one language there is a spark to learn another
one. I know my thoughts were that once I learned one language very well, then
what’s another one? What is stopping me from knowing more than just two
languages? This moment often comes after you’ve successfully communicated
something to someone in a language which is not your own.
So as for me, I hold English as
my native language (duh, you already knew that), I can also speak a fair bit of
Spanish, and in my opinion an even better bit of German. In my quest to
continuously grow my level knowledge I have decided to learn Norwegian this
year as well. This time however, it is a little bit different because I am
receiving no actual tutoring, I am completely teaching myself. I know that this
is no easy task, and therefore I am not seeking perfection. I would like to be
proficient enough to ask for the bathroom, have a polite conversation or order
something at a restaurant, not have a philosophical debate. That being said, I
think having quirky little skills like being able to speak Norwegian will set
you apart in life, it will make you interesting, and maybe make you stand out
just that little bit more. It also proves that you are driven, because you did
indeed dedicate time to learning something you may not have necessarily NEEDED
to learn to get the job that you want, or to get into the degree program you
want, but that you are passionate about learning, and that you are also willing
to expand your skill set for no other reason than to make yourself better.
Learning a language is not
something that must be done during high school or at university, it can be done
any time, at any age, and with any amount of time, because the very nature of a
language learner is to be a life-long learner. Just like anything else, the
more effort you put in the more you’ll get out. If you’ll take anything away
from this post, it would be try it out, learn a little bit of a language you’ve
always been interested in. You don’t have to invest hours of every day into it,
just here and there. But even if you don’t do that, at least make an attempt to
understand something about the culture of the people whose language intrigues
you. I am a firm believer that it is possible to come into contact with anyone
from anywhere if you really try hard enough, so a basic understanding of
cultural differences will break down the language barrier a bit, but is also a
skill which required for success in modern society.
Thanks for reading!!
Cheers!
xoxo
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