Did you just break up with your long-time boyfriend? Are you having a quarter-life crisis? Did you just quit your job> Whatever the situation is, when you’re at a crossroad of your life, all you crave is change.
Some enroll in yoga or cooking classes, while others travel abroad and look for new adventures. Studying foreign languages can be a beautiful distraction, too. You can gain a lot from it, and it will also be useful once you decided to embark on an Eat, Pray, Love kind of journey. Apart from that, here are more reasons studying foreign languages is awesome:
1. It will make you smarter.
Smart is the new sexy. For sure, you wouldn’t want to miss out any opportunity that will help you become smarter AND sexier, right?
According to an article from The Telegraph, studying foreign languages increases your brainpower, as it can help you multi-task and improve your decision-making skills, among other things. So if you want to be smarter, include learning a foreign language on your list of New Year’s resolutions.
2. It will boost your self-confidence.
After getting heartbroken a lot of times, sometimes you need a pick-me-up.
When you are learning a new language, there is a huge room for mistakes. When you get more comfortable with the language, and that translates to better fluency, lower inhibitions, and higher self-confidence. This level of self-confidence can help you bounce back from whatever misery you are in right now.
3. It can open new job opportunities.
Need a new job? Foreign languages listed on your CV can ease the struggles of looking for a new job.
Companies today are constantly branching out overseas, and they have a certain need for bilingual or multilingual employees. Knowing two or more foreign languages can open up more employment opportunities for you, and it gives you a definite edge over monolingual applicants.
4. It will make traveling much more fun.
If you really want to Eat, Pray, Love your way to moving on, better make the most of your journey.
Learning a foreign language, even just a few phrases, will make your travel experiences better than you have expected. It is not just useful when it comes to shopping and haggling, but it can also open opportunities for mingling with locals and making new friends!
5. It will allow you to discover new culture.
If you really want change, put yourself in a different place with a different culture. You can learn more about a culture by immersing yourself into it, and you can begin by learning their language. It is much easier if you understand what the locals are talking about. You might get a new perspective in life while you’re there, and that experience might make you forget the things or people that you lost and appreciate the things you already have.
6. It will help you meet new people.
Is there a better way to look for change than meeting new people?
Being multilingual increases your opportunity to meet new people. Wherever you go, if you know different languages, you can easily connect with other nationalities. It doesn’t hurt that you have a Spanish, French, Chinese, Mexican or African in your circle of friends. The more diverse your friends are, the bigger your world is.
Charlemagne is known to have said, “To know two languages is to possess a second soul.” Whether you’re soul-searching or just trying to add another layer to your soul, studying foreign languages can help you find the change you are craving for.
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