Reasons to learn a new language

Learning a new foreign language takes time, a lot of commitment, motivation is a must but whatever the reason is to acquire a new skill, it will be beneficial. In today’s global economy, knowing another language is a vital skill and it will give you the opportunity to engage with others and discovering differences in how people live and think.
For example, learning a foreign language as a child and you will be benefiting from cross-cultural friendships, an extended career opportunity, a deeper connection with local while travelling and finally an insight into how others see the world.

Early age:
From an early age, the new language acquisition is mastered easily and almost instantly. I mainly emphasise on speaking and listening. Young learners develop their auditory awareness long before writing or reading skills. Consequently, building vocabulary by introducing a small number of new words and phrases in each lesson is valuable.
My role as a French tutor is to keep it simple but mainly fun so they can learn easily and enjoy copying pronunciation without the shyness and embarrassment of grown-ups. Young learners are natural imitators, receptive to new sound, learning songs help them to enjoy repeating and remembering them. A variety of activities and games are used during the lessons to encourage them in using new vocabulary in an enjoyable way. For instance, learning the numbers by playing bingo which they really appreciate.
In addition, establishing routines are necessary, for example revising and consolidate what they have done in the previous lesson. Stories with illustrations are always appreciated, young learners are actively participating, and I encourage them saying words that they already know. Stories are playing a big role in lessons and the enjoyment draw surprising me.

Brain booster:
Learning a second language can help to boost our cells function, the more our brain is used, the better it works. I have senior students who come to keep their mind sharper for longer. Usually they are keen on learning and work hard which is very rewarding for the teacher as they really making efforts.
In addition, learning a second language could improve the cognitive process and memory, increases focus and self-control and protects you against certain dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  “For monolingual adults, the mean age for the first signs of dementia is 71.4. For adults who speak two or more languages, the mean age for those first signs is 75.5. Thus, bilingual patients exhibited symptoms of dementia between 3 and 4 years later than a comparable group of monolingual patients.“1
The brain of a bilingual person operates differently compared to single language speakers, and these differences come along with some amazing perks.
1 “Delaying the onset of Alzheimer disease(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3033609/)”

Moving to France:
If you move to France, you need to be prepared to communicate with the local community. Demonstrate your knowledge and your interest in a foreign country and the locals will be delighted. If you have an advanced knowledge of the language, you will be able to have more meaningful conversations with the people you meet. When you start using words on native speakers, they will appreciate your effort and they even might help you.
 Learning a foreign language might help you understand your own language better through comparison and similarities between two languages.
You will probably be aware than French words regularly used in English have been imported from the Norman Conquest in 1066. which mean According to Wikipedia “45% of all English words have a French origin”.

A handful of examples:
Bon voyage – (good journey)
Brunette
Bureau – (desk, office)
Chic – from the French word ‘chic’ (elegant)
Cul-de-sac – from the French word ‘cul-de-sac’ (bottom of the bag/sack)
Rendezvous – from the French word ‘rendez-vous’ (appointment)

Career prospects:
A second languagemight widen your horizons concerning jobs and might set you apart from other applicants. Being able to speak in a foreign language will increase your chances when going on business trips or working overseas. Languages can open doors for new jobs. As the workplace becomes more global, institutions, businesses or various organisations will need more people who are able to communicate in other languages. For those looking to stand out in a tough jobs market, learning a language could make the difference.
The world is changing fast. More companies than ever are doing business around the world, but they can’t do it without hiring or employing people who can speak at least one foreign language. I have work in multicultural companies where I taught employees and help learners boost their confidence or learn a new skill.

Travelling abroad:
Being British is great, English is spoken worldwide, but if you travel and believe that you can get by just by speaking English and you consider that there is no point to learn another language, it might be time to acquire one. If you want to venture to rural places to get to know the typical life of a community or visit a non-touristic region, then the ability to communicate with others in their own language is invaluable and also helps to build relationships.
Moreover, travelling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad. While monolingual travellers are capable of visiting the same places, travellers who know more than one language are more easily able to navigate outside the tourist bubble and to connect and interact with its people in a way that is often inaccessible to those without the language.
There are great reasons to learn a foreign language, whatever your goals are, have a clear idea of why you’re learning a language as it will help you to motivate yourself. Learning a second language also opens additional doors to opportunities for studying or working abroad.

Bonne chance et à bientôt.