Teach English in Yongyang Zhen - Nanjing Shi

Language is an essential part of humanity. Integrated in our lives, it gives us the ability to express ourselves in numerous ways. But the whole world doesn’t speak the same language. Across many countries, cultures and languages vary greatly. So why is learning a foreign language an invaluable experience? For starters, when you know a second or third language, you can cross the cultural barrier and create deep connections with people you otherwise would have never been able to communicate with. Learning about these people and understanding the cultural differences gives not only an insight into a life different than your own, but allows you to understand how another part of the world perceives your culture. It leads you from the narrowness and confinement of a singular perspective to understanding other parts of the world. Opening yourself to appreciating cultural diversity. Learning a foreign language also opens up a world of possibilities in job opportunities, meeting a potential partner, and cross-cultural friendships. In the job aspect, it gives you a competitive edge over someone who is monolingual. Your marketable skills in the global economy will be greatly improved if you master a second language. As for partners and friendships, you become more interesting in conversations when people discover you speak more than one language. On the same note, you might end up meeting more interesting characters as the pool of people becomes larger with the more languages you know. As for traveling, whether for business or pleasure, knowing the language of the place you’re going to not only helps you stay safe but allows you to dive into the culture instead of remaining as just a tourist. You might even discover local restaurants and hidden gems that you otherwise would have never known about. This, in turn, can generate positive attitudes towards cultures, creating less prejudice of a country and its people. Residents of the destination are also sometimes more welcoming towards tourists when you speak their language. Of course, this is all dependent on the culture of the place you visit, but knowing the language will help you understand how to be respectful in an otherwise unfamiliar place. On an intellectual level, learning a foreign language gives your brain a boost like no other. Not only will your analytical skills increase, but also your creativity, problem-solving, dealing with abstract concepts, memory ability, and many more areas have been noted to increase significantly. All of this, in turn, makes you a better learner. You will also learn more about your own language through the study of another. As an example, Spanish is my second language and I’m currently learning Korean through both Spanish and English. While I learn on my own in my native tongue, my classes are all taught in Spanish. Since starting, I’ve felt my ability in the Spanish language has grown greatly. There’s been a noticeable improvement in how I converse and the vocabulary I use in Spanish as I learn Korean. The beginning can be daunting, but once you can speak even just a little of a foreign language you’ll realize that it is possible to learn and understand it, which is a great feeling to have. Once you’ve more or less mastered a foreign language, you can try your hand at enjoying art in their original forms. Bollywood films, manga, telenovelas, Kdramas, foreign music, there’s endless possibilities of art to enjoy through the original language. Or if science and philosophy is more your speed, the door to those opportunities open just as much with connecting you to scientists and philosophers from around the world. You might learn something new from their distinct perspective. Graduates around the world also cite that foreign language courses are the most valuable courses in college for the communication skills it helps develop. When you become a better communicator, you can participate more in our multicultural world. Breaking the barriers of mistrust and fear through the bridge of language will lead us to a more respectful and peaceful community. Understanding each other across cultures and languages expands our world view, teaching us to be more flexible and tolerant to our differences. All of this combined makes foreign language an invaluable experience. Connecting us with the world in ways not possible without a common language. An exchange of culture, respect, and understanding, while strengthening our own minds and bringing along new opportunities with it.