Teaching

7 Reasons to learn a foreign language

GVI

Posted: December 12, 2022

Learning a foreign language can be a rewarding and enriching experience, with many benefits for both your personal and professional life.

Here are 7 reasons to learn a foreign language:

1. Improve your career prospects

Future proofing your career should be a major goal for any aspiring professional, so this has to be at the top of our list of 7 reasons to learn a foreign language.

Learning a foreign language can improve your career prospects in several ways. For one, it can make you more attractive to potential employers, as many businesses and organisations operate internationally and value employees who can communicate with people from other countries.

Additionally, learning a foreign language can open up new job opportunities and industries that may not have been available to you before. For example, if you learn Spanish, you may be able to work in a Spanish-speaking country or in a company that does business with Spanish-speaking clients.

2. Enhance your communication skills

Learning a foreign language can improve your communication skills in several ways. For one, it can help you better understand and communicate with people who speak that language. This is because when you learn a new language, you typically also learn about the culture and customs of the people who speak that language.

At the same time, learning a foreign language can also improve your listening skills, as you will need to listen carefully to understand what people are saying in the language you are learning.

Learning a foreign language can also help you express yourself more clearly and accurately, as you will need to learn how to construct sentences and use the right grammar and vocabulary in the language you are learning.

3. Increase your brain power

Studies have shown that learning a foreign language can increase brain power, by improving your memory, concentration and problem-solving skills.

4. Enjoy travel more

Being able to speak a foreign language can make your travels more enjoyable and rewarding. It can help you to better navigate a foreign country, and allow you to communicate with the locals.

Learning a foreign language can also help you to meet new people, both in your own country and abroad. You can connect with other language learners, or join language clubs or organisations.

Group of diverse college student friends laughing and chatting sitting on the grass on campus. High quality photo

5. Learn about other cultures

Learning a foreign language can give you a window into other cultures, and help you to understand the history, customs and values of other countries.

6. Enhance your memory and problem-solving skills

Learning a foreign language can improve your memory and problem-solving skills in several ways.

For one, it can help improve your memory by increasing the density of your brain’s grey matter. This leads to increased mental flexibility, which can help you process information more effectively and improve your problem-solving skills.

Additionally, when you learn a foreign language, you are effectively creating new pathways in your brain that can help you think more creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems. This is because learning a new language requires you to think in different ways and consider problems from different perspectives, which can help improve your overall cognitive abilities. you think more creatively and flexibly.

7. Enjoy literature, films and music in the original language

Learning a foreign language can give you greater access to a wealth of literature, films and music in the original language. This can be a great way to learn more about the culture and history of the language you’re learning.

Learn a foreign language: Quick tips

There are many good ways to learn a foreign language, such as:

Use a language learning app like Duolingo: Duolingo is a popular language learning app that offers lessons in a variety of languages. It uses gamification to make the learning process fun and engaging, and it offers a range of exercises to help you practise speaking, listening, reading and writing in the language you are learning.
Take a class: Enrolling in a language class is a great way to learn a foreign language, as it will provide you with a structured learning environment and the guidance of a trained instructor. You will be able to learn at your own pace and get feedback on your progress from your teacher.
Practice with a language partner: Finding a language partner is a great way to practise speaking and listening in the language you are learning. You can find a language partner through a language exchange program or by using a language learning app like Tandem.
Immerse yourself in the language: One of the best ways to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. This means listening to music, watching TV shows and movies, and reading books and articles in the language you are learning. You can also try to speak the language as much as possible, even if you make mistakes, as this will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency.
Use flashcards: Flashcards are a simple but effective way to learn new vocabulary and phrases in a foreign language. You can use physical flashcards or use a flashcard app like Anki to create and study digital flashcards on your phone or computer.

If you’re a linguaphile or you’re just keen to connect with new people and learn about their cultures, joining a volunteer or internship program abroad can expose you to new languages and communities while experiencing an incredible adventure. GVI offers teaching programs around the world, all run alongside our outstanding local partner organisations.

Speak to our team about joining a teaching program, or the many ways you can learn a new language on our renowned conservation programs for volunteers and interns.

Speak to us about special offers

Everyone’s invited. Get up to 80% of your program fees covered.

GVI Foundation Grants are now available for conservation programs abroad. Up to GBP 5,000 based on your motivation and circumstances. Apply by 30 Nov.

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