Is Learning A New Language Still Beneficial?
With English becoming a universal language all over the world, does learning a new language still give one’s career a boost in terms of job perspectives? The Telegraph cites research claiming that German, French, Spanish, Polish and Mandarin are some of the best languages for graduates to study. International businesses prefer to hire people who can speak more than one language as it definitely gives a candidate an edge over others, in the market.
Beyond intellectual benefits, knowledge of a foreign language facilitates travel, enhances career opportunities and enables one to learn more about other people and different cultures (National Research Council 2007).
In a survey of alumni of The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona, most respondents specified that learning a second language did improve their career opportunities and gave them a competitive advantage in the market. Not only was language study a critical factoring in hiring decisions and enhancing their career paths, it also provided personal fulfillment, mental discipline and cultural enlightenment (Grosse 2004).
In recent years, the US government has expressed a need for fluent speakers in languages other than English, specially Arabic and Chinese (US General Accounting Office 2002).
The scope of learning secondary languages thus has a huge scope in the market even now. Being able to communicate in other languages helps one in various different perspectives and enhances opportunities with companies and corporate doing business internationally.
Being bilingual or multilingual puts an employee in a marketable position, one who is able to distinguish him/herself in the market.
In comparison to monolinguals, foreign language learners often develop sharper memories and better listening skills (The Benefits of Second Language Study).
Even though English has become the universal language to communicate in all around the world but it definitely does not reduce the scope of learning other languages in a holistic and multi dimensional manner.
