The differences in the way languages encode cultural affects the way people think because speakers of different languages think and behave differently. Last year I attended a children‘s conference where they narrated the experience of their first day at school. One of the children humorously narrated his experience in French to the amazement of those in the room. Embarrassingly, I was silent because I didn’t understand a word he said.
The differences in the way languages encode cultural affects the way people think because speakers of different languages think and behave differently.
Last year I attended a children‘s conference where they narrated the experience of their first day at school. One of the children humorously narrated his experience in French to the amazement of those in the room. Embarrassingly, I was silent because I didn’t understand a word he said.
I then, fully understood why learning two languages or more during childhood is important because it expands a child’s abilities and skills.
Learning a foreign language was considered to be merely a part of a liberal education or an intellectual exercise through the study of grammar and literature. It was automatically assumed that anyone studying a foreign language as a major field was going to be a teacher, an interpreter or translator and had no other career options. However, that trend has changed and more professions call for bilinguals.
There is also a growing need for individuals who possess advanced skills in foreign languages and are trained in various technical areas. This is a result of increased activity in international business, the inflow of large amounts of foreign capital to the country, increased internationalization, and an expanded awareness of the need to conduct not only business but also diplomatic relations in the language of the host country.
Being bilingual has become a vital part of the basic preparation for increasing number of careers. Even in those cases where the knowledge of a second language does not help graduates obtain a job, a foreign language often enhances mobility and improves the chances for a promotion.
The possibility of speaking different languages increases the chances of travel. The traveler or tourist who knows the language of the country not only has an easier time solving everyday problems associated with travel, but also has a more pleasant experience and greater understanding both of the people of the foreign country and their culture.
Therefore, every language mastered will bring enjoyment and reduce frustration and isolation while travelling.