Angela Xiao (9) | STAFF REPORTER
你好, bonjour, hello, 안녕하세요 and привет! On the surface, these words all seem to be completely different but they all in fact mean the same thing! Languages are incredibly fascinating: having their own alphabet and history, they create a whole new world within their system. Yet many of us forget about its contributions to the world and how learning a new language can truly benefit most of us.
With languages, we open the gate of opportunities. Knowing a second language could aid in job applications and broaden career choice, particularly in multilingual countries. Canada is a great example of this, with French and English as its official languages. As a result, there is a high demand for those who are fluent in both languages, especially those with jobs related to the government and public services. In fact, workers who are fluent in both English and French earn on average 7.5% more than those who only speak English!
Additionally, languages connect people globally. It’s how we share our thoughts, feelings, experiences, as well as knowledge. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to share the intensity of feelings and experiences; as a result, our connection with others would not be as strong. So knowing just one or two more languages can help you share your thoughts with more people, as well as make new friends. Knowing a second language would be especially useful in Canada, since Canada is a multicultural country, with people of different nationalities, so you never know who you’ll bump into!
Finally, learning languages is fun and rewarding! At first, the process may be daunting, but starting something new always seems a bit scary. This learning process not only boosts and challenges your mind, but it’s also an enriching experience. As a trilingual person (who has attempted to learn other languages), I promise you that even taking just 15 minutes out of your day will make all the difference. Learning another language can be difficult at first, and although it certainly is a test of your determination, it will be worth it!
With that being said, why not take on a new challenge this week and try learning a new language! With hard work comes great results!
