Our history is one that Rwandans have always been united by one language, Kinyarwanda. With colonisation came introduction of French, and with the 1994 liberation came English. We saw the traditionally francophone society struggle to adapt as the system changed to anglophone. Those who managed to fluently master both languages are an envy of many today.

The current pace of globalisation is incredibly rapid, framing the world into one global village where, realistically, being fluent in more than one language becomes crucial. This is because proper communication with various key players coming in to invest in the country, for example, through tourism is paramount to the development of this country. 

Despite the fact that business is often conducted in Kinyarwanda within the country, the global business landscape is changing and soon enough, fluency in more languages will enhance your professional prospects.

In fact, people who can speak Kinyarwanda, French and English are selling like hot cake within our own borders.

Which begs the question: Are parents investing their energy to ensure that their children are educated to be multilingual, and, is our education system flexible enough to accommodate multilingual education considering its rising need in the corporate world? 

Whether for practical, aspirational, intellectual or sentimental reasons, learning a new language is important. It is, of course, much easier for children to learn different languages, but it is also very possible for adults exposed to a new language to learn it if they think it is worth the effort. It may not be that easy but it’s not impossible.

Innumerable benefits

Studies have shown that speaking more than just your native language is a great way to exercise your brain and keep it in tiptop condition, especially if you consistently switch between the languages throughout your entire life.

Research continually indicates that those who can speak two or more languages have higher levels of brain function, and are more adept at solving problems, planning, and other mentally demanding tasks.

Samuel Nkurunziza, the headmaster of Kagarama Secondary School, says it’s of paramount importance for students to learn other languages on top of Kinyarwanda because it opens doors for them to communicate with very many key actors, both in education and other spheres of life.

"We may not be able to teach all the languages in the world, but it is important that we put emphasis on the official languages we do teach - French and English - because we have yet to reach our target. Students through their own initiative and teacher’s help can widen their horizons by learning to be fluent in more than their native language,” he says.

It is important to note that opportunities abroad will continue to grow. As globalisation continually unfolds, work opportunities worldwide will increase and therefore being able to communicate in another language will make one more marketable with companies doing business internationally.

This also means that the ability to communicate in different languages broadens one’s network. They will get to move up in one’s field more easily if they can speak different languages and build on their network. Multilingual ability makes one the person who walks out of a meeting or party with the most business cards and interactions.

Nelson Ijumba, the deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Rwanda in charge of academic affairs and research, says multilingual ability improves the quality of graduates and also makes them more marketable on the job market.

"Multilingual graduates are at an advantage because they have the capacity to work in international organisations and are suited to take up opportunities to work in different environments and with different people. It is definitely an asset for a graduate to speak different languages,” he says.

It is no secret that it is becoming harder to find jobs. The ability to speak multiple languages boosts the CV and therefore such a skill enables one to be better placed for job opportunities and fetch a higher salary. Most employers are willing to pay you a higher salary for being fluent in two or more languages.

For students with aspirations to study abroad, it is important to learn an international language. This will not only increase your chances for an admission, but also increases your chances for qualifying for a scholarship!

Monolingual students, on the other hand, may have to take an extra year to learn another language before commencing their education.

Blanche Butera, a first year student at Nebraska Lincoln University in America, says it came as a shock to her when the dean of her school approached her to organise study trips abroad because of her ability to speak both French and English.

"I find myself translating for faculty members and being able to associate and communicate with people from all walks of life. I never thought Swahili would come in handy in America, but now I can communicate with people from Oman. Being a multilingual has definitely brought many opportunities knocking at my door,” she explains.

People who speak multiple languages envision the world in a wider perspective and are, therefore, are not restricted to a single world-view. They are equipped with better understanding and appreciation of people of other countries and their cultures. This can go a long way to lessen racism, xenophobia and intolerance. 

Research indicates that multilingualism has mental benefits too. A study conducted by the University of California indicates that muiltingualism can also delay the onset of symptoms in people suffering from dementia and other brain degenerative diseases. The ability to mentally exercise their brains by switching from one language keeps them healthier for longer compared to monolingual people.

Knowing one or more foreign languages may give you an edge when competing for an important position. It is an indisputable fact that a multilingual is an indispensable asset in any enterprise. They facilitate ease of communication, not only within a company but also when dealing with foreign clients and investors. 

Oscar Budandi, the human resource manager and administrator of Q-Sourcing Rwanda Ltd., says that multilingual ability is a sign of confidence and criteria of a quick learner hence employers will prefer to have a multilingual person on board. 

"Employers will look at it as an asset in office to have someone who can communicate to foreign prospective clients and investors. Such an employee can multi-task as a translator, hence saving the company extra costs. An employee who is multilingual is very desirable in any enterprise,” he notes.

For Allan Brian Ssenyonga, an academician, a multilingual culture is not only beneficial to an individual but it is also important for the nation.

"A multilingual culture makes economic sense as it makes it easier for a country to join economic blocks and host various international organizations in the country. It basically makes it very easy for businesses to grow by expanding their scope when the country joins different integrations,” he explained. 

Grace Mbabazi, a seasoned traveller and business woman, says multilingual ability reduces unnecessary costs on translators while communicating to different people in other countries. 

She added that it also makes formulating of business contracts easier. She emphasises that it is paramount that the business community learn an international language to interact with their counterparts worldwide.

The concept of learning a new language may look incredibly formidable to most people but it is important to keep in mind that it is in every sense worth the effort. The future is looking for skills and hard work and it’s not too late to walk into it prepared. 

Nicholas Ostler (Empires of the World) once said: "Most people in the world are multilingual, and everybody could be; no one is rigorously excluded from another’s language except through lack of time and effort. Different languages protect and nourish the growth of different cultures, where different pathways of human knowledge can be discovered. They certainly make life richer for those who know more than one of them.”

*****

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Ritah Gatsinzi, university student: It is important for children just starting out in school to be exposed to new languages at a young age. This way, they will have their future aligned with opportunities that they are in position to exploit. High school leavers can also use their vacation to learn another language before they go to university.

--

Nancy Lindah Ilamwenya, teacher, New Vision High School: It is easier for children to learn a new language in the earlier years of life, especially if they are in a multilingual environment. The process of learning will hone their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Adults can put an effort into learning a widely used language too because career prospects are increased for people who know more than one language.

--

Serge  Mupenzi, trilingual student: Being fluent in English, French and Kinyarwanda has been very beneficial to me. Every time an opportunity arises at school, I am always one of the students proposed to participate. Also I feel it broadens my horizons. I feel that when I finally go out into the job market, I will have an added advantage because of being multilingual. 

--

Eddie Muhumuza, graduate: The network in the business community today has definitely expanded internationally. The ability to master more than one’s mother tongue will come in handy. We are also currently in the social media era  where diversity has become the norm. Therefore, learning different languages helps us create relationships with people from diverse cultures which will lead to cultural harmony.