Saturday 5 November 2011

Learning a Second Language: How Significant it is to Be a Bi-Lingual




A lot of people will say: “I don’t need to learn another language, I am already an English native speaker” or “I don’t like to learn a different Language because I have my own Language”. Well, not me. 

If you look at the job boards nowadays, most of the job requirements will say: “Must be Bi-Lingual” or “Preferably Bi-Lingual”. So, if you are job hunting, learning a second language is a must. It will give you more opportunities to land on a job you are applying for. And sometimes, having a resume on a second language is a requirement for a global market. When you know their language, it shows your potentials as an aspiring job candidate to learn and grasp comprehensive information systems. You will be captivating in the eyes of the Human Resource Manager. You will be seen as a prospective talent for their company.

If you are a traveler, you will be able to order from the menus in the restaurant, follow the street signs, and people in that place will be able to help you easily because they understand what you are saying. And by trying to learn their language is showing respect to their culture.

If you want to grow your business, you will close more deals when you speak the language of your prospective client. The ability to communicate with their language boosts the quality of relationship you are building. It is definitely a valuable asset in business. See now how important it is to be bi-lingual?

It would be difficult of course to explore a language of a culture which is not your own. But being open minded and your willingness to learn will make it easier. When you learn a second language, it will take you out of your accustomed mindset and expose you to a totally different group of people’s customs. The way you see the world expands beyond your old thinking and your understanding on how they think will also be different. 

There is no such easy thing to do in this world. You need to go through that difficult process but it’s worth it. Just by having a list of new vocabulary words makes it feel good. It’s like exercising your muscles. When you’re active, your brain will have a better memory, organization, and expression. When you express yourself in a different language, it helps you improve yourself expression in your native tongue automatically too. 

Now, you may be asking yourself: “How can I learn a second language and where?” Well, it’s so easy because we have different resources now on how to learn a second language and become a fluent speaker in a new language. Pick what is best for you.



Campus Learning
You can check community colleges, universities, and some private institutions that are offering a second language course. The range of selections varies depending on the size of the school. Of course, you will be charged for classes and materials. Learning a second language is very in demand nowadays which made this field a growing industry.

Online Learning
The internet offers a lot of online tutorials or best online schools to learn a second language. It’s very convenient because with the innovative technologies you can learn through videos language lessons, white boards, and even chats that will give guide you on your pronunciation. The native speakers and fellow students will give you feedback to help you improve your speaking. Youtube videos, podcasts, and online messaging are tools that you and the teacher can use to facilitate connections and contact. With these resources, it will allow you (the online student) to learn at your own pace without pressure. And when you’re good at researching, you can find a free online school for your second language learning adventure.

Moving to the Country
This is what they call immersion. When you move to the country where you want to learn their language, you will absorb their language easily as well as their way of living. In the beginning, you may feel awkward and scared but when you’re persistent and attentive, the sounds and the meanings of their language will enter your mind and become internalized. What you learn stays longer. It’s compared to an athlete’s muscle memory.

You can also buy a dictionary to look up foreign words that you may encounter on your learning. So, what method of learning will you choose? The decision is up to you. Just bear in mind that you are doing it to make your life better and it is fun! It’s not too late to educate yourself. I found myself interested in the online learning since it’s free. I think Spanish is worth learning. How about you? What second language do you think you want to learn?









2 comments:

  1. very true and i want it too, yet it's a little hard to muster especially when you're busy trying to earn a living.

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  2. i strongly agree with you. i took up french lessons as a requirement for one foreign language during my post grad. my, i was so good at it, i had 94%. but it became very futile because i never used it in any conversation and in writing. i regret it. i should have taken either nihongo or chinese (mandarin / fukien), where they are more used in any southeast asian countries.

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