Written by Stephany Mandujano, Staff Writer
Learning a new language can prove to be a very difficult thing to do. Not only because you are learning the grammar, pronunciation, and translation of words, but because you also have to learn the culture and mannerisms of the country from which the language originates.
It can be both a lengthy and daunting process but at the end of the day, it is a rewarding one. Learning a new language can prove to be beneficial and is worth the struggle since the knowledge will follow you throughout your life- time.
Research shows students that studied a foreign language scored higher on the English and math portions of the ACT, according to a 2017 report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an organization that recognizes achievements of members and functions as an independent research center to connect professionals from many backgrounds.
The study of foreign languages can also prove to be a benefit when traveling abroad. It makes it easier to communicate with native speakers, to ask for directions, and to learn about the area. It can also be helpful to understand the culture that the language is from and what isn’t acceptable in the different countries.
In the United States, just 20 percent of students study a foreign language at the K-12 level. At the college level, that percentage drops to 7.5 percent of students learning a foreign language, according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
This gives the individuals who continue to learn a foreign language an edge in the workplace. Since they know a second language, it sets them apart from those who only know a single language. It allows them to provide services or sell goods efficiently to more people as well as make connections with individuals who work for foreign companies.
Lead With Languages, a national campaign that hopes to make language proficiency a national priority, reported that between 2010 and 2015, the number of U.S. job postings specifically geared toward bilingual candidates more than doubled. Adding to that, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2018 and 2028, the need for interpreters and translators will increase by 19 percent.
Learning a foreign language takes a lot of dedication and can be a struggle, but it can prove to be highly rewarding in the end. By learning a new language you can communicate with more people and make long-lasting personal or work- related relationships. Also, learning another language has been proven multiple times to have a direct link to higher academic achievements from students.
Not everyone in the world can speak English and live with the same lifestyle that we do, so by learning a new language, we can understand more about the world around us and the people within it, as well as better ourselves.