Originally published on Educationviews.org
There are numerous benefits to learning a foreign language. As business development professional Fahim Imam-Sadeque explains, doing so can expand your horizons, sharpen your mind, improve your memory and boost your brainpower.
In addition, learning a foreign language increases your chances of succeeding in an ever-expanding global economy. But, with the ability to learn just about any foreign language you would want at the tip of your fingers, how can you choose which one you should learn?
This article will discuss how you can decide which major world language would be best for you.
What Are Your Interests?
An excellent place to start your search is where your interests lie. This could include cultures you want to learn more about or places you want to visit.
While people in most countries throughout the world will speak at least a little English, being able to speak the local language will certainly help you enjoy your travels more.
If you want to travel throughout South America, for instance, it would certainly help to learn Spanish. This would allow you to travel freely throughout Spain as well.
What’s the Motive?
Why do you want to learn a foreign language? The motivation behind your decision could go a long way in determining which world language would be best for you to learn.
If you want to simply satisfy a requirement of your college, you might choose a foreign language that you have some familiarity with or one that you might find easiest to learn.
If you plan on moving to a foreign country for work, your choice of language could be dramatically different.
If you want to travel the world, figure out which language is spoken primarily in the countries you plan to visit. While many people will opt for Spanish, it’s important to know that 32 countries speak French, and many of them are located in Africa.
What’s Your Previous Knowledge?
If you already know a foreign language, then it might make sense to dive headfirst into mastering that language. For example, if you took four years of a foreign language in secondary school, you might not be that far off from becoming fluent in the language.
It would make sense in this scenario to continue your education in this foreign language to master it. It would certainly reduce the amount of time that it would take you to master a foreign language, which, in turn, would provide you with the benefits quicker.
Once you master one language, you would instantly be able to add it to your resume for employment opportunities. It’ll also help you quickly grasp another foreign language if you wish to pursue learning another one.
What’s Your Lineage?
Learning a foreign language is a great way to connect with another culture. If you’re looking for a new way to learn more about your past and where you came from — if you have a diverse cultural background — you can learn the language of your ancestors.
As Fahim Imam-Sadeque explains, many immigrants to the UK and other countries don’t know how to speak the language of their ancestors. They were taught English from birth so they could adapt to the local culture.
But, immigrants from other countries that speak different languages can reconnect with those cultures by learning the language spoken there. This will be a fulfilling experience for you and your family, as you’re able to learn the language that maybe some of your family members still speak today.
It will be an enriching experience that can provide you with many ancillary benefits.
About Fahim Imam-Sadeque
Fahim Imam-Sadeque is a business development professional with proven experience in the asset management industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the City University of London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. Fahim’s top skills include asset management, hedge funds, investment management, sales, and consultant & client relationship management.