Learning a Foreign language

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 27th, 2010

Studying at school, we are to choose a various number of subjects. No matter what subjects you take there has to be a foreign language among them and your dean assures you that it is absolutely necessary to learn it. So you sit there, getting your teeth into numerous dictionaries and workbooks with the only question in your mind:?What for??

There are several reasons to learn a foreign language. Firstly, it is a well-known fact that by learning a new foreign language we get acquainted a new culture. So this is a way to become more intelligent and get to know more interesting facts about other countries and societies. This may be a poser if you are not interested in learning new cultures but still, if to get a closer look at the problem, you may find more reasons to do it. For example, you travel abroad to have a nice rest, let?s say to Paris, and you don?t know even a single word in French. You can?t expect every Frenchman to know English; you?ll for sure meet a person that is not familiar with it. Then, just think about possibilities for your career growth if you are a free foreign language user. Some people earn pretty good money translating different books, english essays and articles into their native language. If your company is involved in international affairs, you must know at least the basis of the language of a partner to find a common ground with your foreign co-workers. English is an international language, no doubt about that. Native-speakers don?t have to worry about being misunderstood at the airport, but what to do if your native language is for example Chinese or Arabian, that is extremely difficult to learn. But they, betraying their folkways, learn English and visit foreign English speaking countries to find success in their future business. Learning a foreign language has become an obligatory part of school program and now we can see some miraculous results. The english essay of the foreign school child may be more literate and well-structured than the one of the native-speaker.

As we can see, there are many advantages of learning a foreign language. But don?t start learning it just because you need, that will bring no result and get you frustrated in no time. Think carefully about the schedule and materials you are going to use. Also you may want to choose a teacher among the best and the most qualified to do it. Communication with the native-speaker may be a plus and a visit to a foreign country will bring you not only practice but joy and pleasure. But before doing all the above-mentioned, you are to consider, what language you are going to learn. If you passionately want to learn Icelandic and know that there is no way of using it in practice, what?s the point in starting to study it? An easy question may turn out to be difficult so good luck in your future studies!