“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” – L. Wittgenstein If you do not know any language other than your mother tongue, what stops you? You may not know that good command of the English language is the third most common requirement of employers. One decision offers us many opportunities. Everyone has got their dream job; regardless of what industry it is, prospects, development and self-improvement are essential in every branch of human activity. We should agree that cooperation and exchange of experience with foreign colleagues is not only interesting but also useful and even inspiring. This ensures effective communication with partners and customers around the world. And it is undoubtedly a pleasure to communicate without an interpreter. I believe the person you are talking to will be impressed both with your knowledge and your language skills. People who know more than one language are more likely to be valued in companies. This applies both for small businesses and transnational corporations. Let us call it all overseas opportunities. We should not forget about studying abroad: in the United States or any country in Europe or Asia. The fulfilment of dreams, the opportunity to earn money and learn lessons for life are the goals of many young people today. This was also my dream, and I am working towards it, and I believe that the knowledge of languages will enhance my opportunities. In our daily lives, the hours spent memorizing word lists and learning grammar rules are also useful. I do not feel confused or lost in any place abroad. When I read books in the original language and listen to my favourite songs, I understand the author not only with my mind but also with my heart. For me, this is more than just knowledge. “To know many languages is to have many keys to one lock” – as Voltaire once said. The more keys we have in our hands, the better. Language is the DNA of a nation. By learning a new foreign language, you also immerse yourself in the culture and history of these people and their country. I do not think anyone dreams of staying where they live for the rest of their lives without travelling and exploring the world and getting to know people around them. Even if you do not need foreign languages to run and develop your business, you could learn them just for your own pleasure. It directly affects the amount of grey matter in your brain: it is a scientifically proven fact that your brain literally grows when you learn a language. If you know a foreign language, you can save yourself from Alzheimer\’s disease or at least delay its development. It is also worth mentioning that learning languages improves our memory. My experience is that I have become better at remembering things since I started learning English. Once you learn one language, it is definitely easier to start learning another one. Thanks to English I can go on exchange trips to other countries and read interesting articles from different universities. I even took a course at Stanford University. I have also learnt Polish for my studies and now it gives me the opportunity to communicate with professionals and learn from their work experience. I am happy that I decided to study languages and now use my knowledge to pursue my career and interact with other people. Being intelligent and educated has always been and will always be appreciated. I believe that learning foreign languages is one of many steps to achieve this goal and enhance you career opportunities.
Artykuł opublikowany w ramach konkursu pisarskiego „Język w biznesie i życiu”
Autor: Halyna Kucher