If you are reading this article, it is safe to assume that you read, and probably speak, English. Various dialects of English are spoken in countries all over the world; even in countries where language is not the primary language, it is often used for business communications; English is the first language of 340 million people, and an additional 600 million people speak English. Indeed, it is very easy for English speakers to believe that they do not need to know any other language. However, there are many reasons why learning a foreign language, or even several foreign languages, is beneficial.

Although English is spoken in a lot of places, it is not spoken everywhere. If you plan to travel to a country where English is not the primary language, you should know at least a little of the local language, especially if you don’t want to be limited to the touristy areas. Otherwise, you may find yourself lost or in need of help and completely unable to communicate with anyone. Additionally, people really appreciate it when you speak to them in their native language.

So Many Languages, So Little Time

There are so many languages in the world, and all of them are useful to know; unfortunately, no one person can speak every single language. This means that you need to decide which languages you want to learn, and which language you want to learn first. If you are planning to travel to another country, you should probably learn that country’s primary language. Otherwise, you can pick a language that would facilitate you career.