Many people think they are too old to start learning a second language, or that it's not important, but learning a second language can improve your career potential, add to your sense of well-being and promote world peace at any age.
Have you ever wished you could purr effortlessly in French, trill emphatically in Spanish, or wow a date by ordering the sushi in Japanese? Well, more and more native speakers of English are taking on the challenge of learning a second language with great success.
Admittedly, Americans are at a disadvantage because so few born in the United States have ever felt the need to learn a second language as the rest of the world has been busy learning English in order to compete with economic opportunities offered by English speakers. This has made our lives much easier in some respects, but has also created a kind of linguistic complacency in our society that hasn’t allowed us to explore the benefits of being multilingual. However, the changing linguistic landscape of the United States and the world may necessitate our acquisition of a second language in order for each of us to better enjoy our social sphere and workplace potential.
Expanding Professional Opportunities
Perhaps the most compelling reason for Americans to learn a second language is the practical edge it can give you in the workplace. From the service industry and education, to the corporate arena and retail, the ability to reach out through language both literally and figuratively is being seen as a valuable work skill in terms of public relations, human resource management and life experience. With so much at stake for employers in these areas, knowing or not knowing a second language could be a deal maker or breaker at the time of hire and promotion. One need not be fluent to qualify as a speaker of a second language, so it’s perfectly acceptable not to be a native speaker and compete. Having a working knowledge of the language and evidence of formal and ongoing study is proof enough of your skill level and commitment.