Expand your world with another language

You’re on the street and a tourist approaches you for directions. He has no idea what you’re saying, and you have no idea what he’s talking about. This situation is a better time than any to know a second language.

Everyone should become bilingual especially when one considers how many different languages they can choose from.

Mandarin, Spanish, English, Portuguese, Hindi, and Russian are all among the top spoken languages around the globe, according to RedLine Language Services.

Imagine how many more people you could talk to if you knew any one of these second dialects.

Traveling would become so much easier as well. Having the chance to communicate with people from different parts of the world would enhance your cultural experience.  There would be no need to bring a translation book. All you would have to do is ask and listen.

Aside from having the skill to communicate to a larger number of people, being bilingual also makes you more intelligent.

The ability to speak more than one language improves cognitive skills and can block dementia in old age, as reported in an article by The New York Times. Having the potential to know more than one language makes the brain resolve internal conflict and strengthens cognitive muscles.

Both language systems are always active even when only one language is being used. It’s like exercising the brain just by speaking.

Bilingualism also affects the brain’s executive function. This improves the process of planning, solving problems and other mentally demanding tasks, as stated on the How Life Works website. It also increases the capability to multitask.

Since speaking more than one language makes you smarter, it is safe to say that being bilingual makes you competitive in the job market and will land you a job more easily. There is more to offer and to put on your resume when you have a wider set of skills and range of languages.

Potential employers are always looking for bilingual candidates. They know that those applicants are invaluable.

This is especially true when it comes to the retail and manufacturing industries, where knowing a language such as Spanish can be the difference between making a sale or not.

As a former manager in retail, trust me when I say being able to understand and communicate with your customer is a blessing. It makes transactions and selling items much more efficient.

Businesses and corporations are working with other countries more and more, so learning another dialect will give candidates an advantage, as stated by WSU’s Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures.

It is never too late to pick up another language whether it’s German, French or even Tagalog. There are plenty of books and programs, such as Rosetta Stone, that can help in crossing that bilingual bridge.

As college students at WSU we are all given the option to major or minor in different types of languages. Choosing this path will add an edge to your resume after college. At the very least you’d be able to learn a few words and you may even fall in love with the language as well.