why learn language

Wie lernt man eine Fremdsprache

[email protected]

Why Learn A Foreign Language

In this section, contains ten good reasons why all of you should be learning a foreign language.

We hope it will help you to find out what your motivation to learn a foreign language is. The motivation itself is very important for anybody who wants to learn a foreign language.

Why is this important? Because of this motivation, anybody who has desire to learn a foreign language can be helped in his/her “journey” of learning a foreign language. Even Michael West said that a motivation was a very important thing in teaching foreign language.

Motivation

Enquête divided motivation into two sides, there are: internal motivation and external motivation.

Internal motivation is the motivation which grows inside the human itself without influenced by anything and anyone. This kind of motivation is very rare to find. The reason is because someone who has this kind of motivation, has no reason—at all—to learn a foreign language, unless to look for a joy and fun in learning a foreign language. He/she has a great passion to prove him/herself that he/she can master that language.

In the other hand, external motivation is influenced by many factors, such as: world’s changing, globalization, job’s requirement/career, culture, education, economic, even love. Almost many people in the world who want to learn a foreign language have this kind of motivation. It’s OK, because whatever your motivation is, it has to be “buried deeply”.

If you want to learn a foreign language but you don’t have a motivation yet, “choose” one. Because it looks impossible to learn a foreign language without any motivation!


Motivation

1) To increase global understanding

As globalization, mobility, and communications are bring the world ever closer together, ever more urgent is the need for global citizens to be competent in other languages. And as you know Indonesian isn’t a global language, right?

For survival in the global community, every nation needs such individuals. A person who competent in other languages, can bridge the gap between cultures, contribute to international diplomacy, promote national security and world peace, and successfully engage in international trade.

If you want to be that person, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!

Book tip:“Why You Need a Foreign Language and How to Learn One”, by Edward Trimnell, 236 p. 2005.


Reasons

2) To improve employment potential

Employees who speak one language can communicate only with people who speak that same language. But employees who speak in more than one language can communicate with more than one “kind” people.

Whatever your career goals, knowing a language certainly won't hurt your employability. Chances are that knowing languages will open up employment opportunities that you would not have had otherwise. And you will be able to command a greater salary in the workplace.

If you want to be that employee, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!

Book tip:“Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors”, by Julie DeGalan, 272 p. 2000.“Careers in Foreign Languages”, by Blythe Camenson, 256 p. 2001.


Reasons


Reasons

3) To increase native language ability

Research shows that knowledge of other languages boosts students' understanding of languages in general and enables students to use their native language more effectively. This applies to specific language skills as well as overall linguistic abilities.

Foreign language learners have stronger vocabulary skills in their native language, a better understanding of their language, and improved literacy in general. Higher reading achievement in the native language as well as enhanced listening skills and memory have been shown to correlate with extended foreign language study.

These results in the United States, are apparent in several studies as well as in test scores. With each additional year of foreign language instruction taken, a student's scores on college and graduate school entrance exams such as the SATs, ACTs, GREs, MCATs, and LSATs improve incrementally.

If you want to be that student, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!


Reasons

4) To sharpen cognitive and life skills

Because learning a language involves a variety of learning skills, studying a foreign language can enhance one's ability to learn and function in several other areas. Children who have studied a language at the elementary level score higher on tests in reading, language, arts, and math. People who have learned foreign languages show greater cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order thinking skills, such as problem-solving, conceptualizing, and reasoning.

And also, language learners learn to deal with unfamiliar cultural ideas, they are much better equipped to adapt and cope in a fast-changing world. They also learn to effectively handle new situations. In addition, the encounter with different cultures from one's own leads to tolerance of diverse lifestyles and customs. And it improves the learner's ability to understand and communicate with people from different walks of life.



Reasons

5) To improve chances of learning in a college or school

The need of foreign language today is very urgent. Not only in college, but also in senior high school, even in elementary school, foreign language is such as a common thing. A lot of student today have mastered—at least—English for basic ability. For university student, it is so important too, this is because research journals are often published in non-Indonesian language.

So many universities in Indonesia have a pre-requirement for student who will be graduated in TOEFL score, in spite of the diverse of the score. The student won’t graduate if he/she can’t reach that score.

If you don’t want to be that student, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!

Book tip:“German for Reading Kowledge”, by Hubert Jannach and Richard Alan Korb, 336 p. 2004.“French for Reading”, by Karl C. Sandberg and Eddison C. Tatham, 526 p. 1968.


Reasons

6) To appreciate international literature, music, and film

Most of the world's literary and artistic works have been written in languages other than Indonesian. A translation of a text can never be fully true to the intent, beauty, style, and uniqueness of its original.

A translation is always to a large degree subject to the interpretation of the translator, not least because some elements of languages simply don't have translations in other languages. Word plays, metaphors, innuendoes, cultural references and culturally loaded vocabulary words, jokes, and formulations unique to the original language often get lost in translation. To be able to fully appreciate literature, theater, music, and film in other languages, person must be able to access them in their original form.



Reasons

7) To make travel more feasible and enjoyable

Though it's possible to travel to foreign countries without speaking the native language, your experience will be largely shaped by your ability or inability to see beyond the surface of the culture.

When you lack the ability to communicate in the native language, you can not fully participate in day-to-day life, understand the culture, or communicate with the people. When you know the language, you have the comfort of being able to successfully navigate all sorts of situations, like order meals in restaurants, ask for and understand directions, find accommodations, and perhaps negotiate cheaper prices. In most countries, people will appreciate attempts to use their language. You will be able to communicate more completely and have a deeper, more satisfying travel experience.



Reasons

8) To expand study abroad options

Do you want to study abroad?If the answer is Yes, you have to learn a foreign

language. But unfortunately, students often shy away from studying foreign language. They mistakenly believe that their grades will suffer, that their language proficiency isn’t adequate, or that they won’t be able to fit in or understand the culture.

That was the wrong reason. Students can leave the language classroom and immediately put into practice what they have learned in class. Habit can create the ability in learning language. If we live in a foreign language society, sooner or later we will understand what they mean.

If you want to be that student, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!

Book tip:“Study Abroad 101”, by Wendy Williamson, 196 p. 2004. “Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience”, by Michele-Marie Dowell and Kelly P. Mirsky, 208 p. 2002.


Reasons

9) To increase understanding of oneself and one's own culture

Knowing another language and culture affords you the unique opportunity of seeing yourself and your own culture from an outside perspective. There are aspects of your language, yourself, your life, and your own culture that you accept as absolute and universal or that you have never even considered until you encounter a culture and people who do things in a much different way than you’re used to.

Contact with other languages and cultures gives you the unique opportunity to step outside your familiar scope of existence and view your culture’s customs, traditions, and norms as well as your own value system through the eyes of others. Conversely, a monolingual view of the world limits your perspective. Intercultural experiences have a monumental influence on shaping your identity, heightening your self-awareness, and giving you a full appreciation of your life situation. These things can happen only with knowledge of cultures and languages other than your own.



Reasons

10)To make lifelong friends

Knowing other languages effectively increases the number of people on the globe with whom you can communicate. And people who speak other languages fully appreciate the effort and desire learners expend to get to know their culture and to communicate with them. Whether through meeting foreign exchange students on your campus or in your community, whether getting to know natives or international students while studying abroad, or whether establishing a connection with a pen pal in another country, your ability to speak other languages and your interest in other cultures can connect you deeply with people around the globe.

If you want to be friends to, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!


Anyone who has told you that learning another language is impractical,

unrewarding, or simply a waste of your precious time is doing you a

great disservice, forget it. You really don’t need to believe in

him/her.

Take advantage and enhance your life ...

LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!

why learn language

Education

foreign language

study abroad

book tip

unique opportunity

native language

reasonswhy

motivationwhy

internal motivation