THE BENEFITS

There are many benefits in learning a foreign language. As described later in “Job Opportunities”, the world is becoming a smaller place and if you can speak and/or write more than one language, you have the opportunity to work abroad.

So, if you decide to live abroad, for whatever reason, you can learn a great deal about the culture and mindset of the local people, if you are able to converse with them. Many people emigrate without being able to speak the local language and as a consequence they don’t understand and appreciate traditions and the way of life of the local population including the local cuisine, arts and music.

If you decide to live somewhere where the locals speak very little English, or perhaps non at all and you don’t speak their language, you can have all types of problems - should you wish to build your own house or simply get the electricity connected. A good example of this can be seen in Thailand. Some thais will speak what seems to be passable English, but because of the way they have acquired their knowledge of the language, you will still have problems getting through to them. Even if you decide to build your own house using English-speaking local workers, you’d have to watch every move they make, because their understanding of what is required of them may not be yours!!

And finally, something for us all to think about, is that research into psychology and ageing has shown being able to speak in more than one language can prevent the cognitive decline that is seen in those who speak only in their native tongue.