The benefits of learning a foreign language are undeniable. Whether it’s for academic or professional purposes, or if you’re looking to expand your knowledge, there are so many reasons why you might want to consider majoring in a foreign language.
However, majoring in a foreign language offers you so much more than just the degree you’re pursuing. Here are some of the top reasons why you should definitely choose that major.
Enhance Cognitive Functions
First of all, let’s speak scientifically. Have you ever thought that learning a new language can boost your brain powers? If you’re feeling doubtful, here are some scientifically-proven facts to blow your mind. The fact of the matter is that research has already proven how bilingual, or multilingual, children have been shown to possess sharper brain cognitive functions.
That can be seen in their test scores where their problem solving, vocabulary, reading, and math skills have outperformed the scores of monolingual children of the same age. Moreover, learning a new language is for your brain like a workout is for your muscles; it forces your brain muscle to engage new parts of it. That results in a finely tuned brain that gets sharper over time.
Access Courses Globally
Majoring in a foreign language gives you the ability to cross geographic barriers and access information from any corner of the globe. In a time where lockdown restrictions are enforced everywhere and most of us are stuck at home, seeking online education can be your only academic savior. You’ll be limited to the courses and online degrees offered in your local area if you’re monolingual.
On the other hand, if you have more languages under your belt, you’ll have access to different courses in any language you know, regardless of the providing country. Even if there’s no lockdown, online courses are a great and practical way to learn according to your own time and schedule; it’s no wonder that the whole world is turning toward digital learning nowadays.
Understand Different Cultures
When you start exploring a foreign language, you do so much more than just learn new vocabulary and language functions. You get immersed in the culture of the natives using that language, which expands your experience of living significantly. You get to learn about their habits, history, living standards, and culture as a whole; it gives you some of the skills you’d otherwise learn if you traveled abroad.
Increase Portfolio Appeal
When we focus on the professional arena, you’ll find that your opportunities expand exponentially with another language under your belt. It’s true that you can always find work opportunities in your local area with nothing but your native language, but a foreign language will always improve your odds.
Whether you’re looking for a job in your field of expertise or exploring different career paths, you won’t be limited to the local employers and companies. You’ll be able to work in a multinational company working with international accounts, or even find online job opportunities where you work for an overseas employer.
Improve Professional Success
In addition to improving your odds, majoring in a foreign language will improve your success in any job you land. For starters, getting deep insights into different cultures gives you a more open-minded mindset that allows you to embrace different ideologies and perspectives.
That will significantly improve your communication skills in your workplace, which is a skill any great leader must have. Moreover, learning foreign languages enables people to use their brains more efficiently, allowing them to focus on what matters and disregard useless information. This makes for better multitasking skills, which, in turn, improves your productivity and professionalism.
Enhance Personal Skills
Aside from the workplace, you’ll want to personally experience all the benefits that come with majoring in a foreign language. You get to make friends from all over the world. If you want to travel for a vacation, studying semester, or for an overseas work opportunity, you’ll have a bigger list of countries to choose from.
Once you get a taste of these benefits, you’ll develop both a curiosity and a thirst for exploring more. You’ll get a sneak peek into how complex human nature is and how diverse the human experience is - yet, despite all of these differences, we’re very similar in many ways.
Multilingualism is a skill that will last you a lifetime. Majoring in a foreign language is about so much more than a degree you earn for finishing a course; it will also boost your cognitive functions while opening many windows into new, diverse cultures. It’s bound to expand both your academic and professional knowledge while boosting both your personal and professional skills.
