With Globalisation, the world is getting smaller every day. An increasing number of students are opting to pursue their studies in a foreign country. However, a barrier between foreign students and locals still remains, largely due to the fact that these students don’t know the foreign language.
Not knowing the local language often puts the students at a disadvantage as they close themselves to many networking opportunities and chances of making friends. This article illustrates the importance of the local language while studying abroad.
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Benefits of knowing the local language while studying abroad
Here are six reasons why you should pick up the local language of the city or the country that you study in.
The daily schedule gets easier.
When you study abroad, you have a lot of conversations with the locals daily. When you don’t know the language, you struggle to understand what they say. Be it asking for directions, shopping, taking public transportation, or talking to the neighbor, learning the local language makes it easier.
Even rudimentary knowledge of the language can help you navigate your way through new places and help you talk to strangers.
The world around you becomes your classroom.
In a typical language class, you receive theoretical knowledge of the language, such as sentence formation and verbs. For example, if you live in London and want to pursue a degree in Spain, you can take up a Spanish course at a language school in London. If you learn the local language, you can expand your learning by applying your knowledge to the real-world scenarios.
You get a much better sense of the culture, history, and customs associated with the language. You gain an excellent insight into the culture of the locals and learn to live the language rather than just have a basic knowledge of it.
It becomes easier to socialise.
Knowing the local language helps you to socialise with other people in your class, building or community. Although you might live in a place where English is widely spoken, learning the local language can help you form deeper connections with people.
Making friends with the locals, in turn, will help you pick up their language better. They might also introduce you to other people and improve your social life.
Your resume looks impressive.
Being proficient in a second language is beneficial and also makes your resume look impressive. A second language skill will make your profile stand out to the employers.
Not only can you talk about your proficiency, but you can also share other abilities that you developed while learning the language, such as problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, global competence, and other social skills.
Exploring local cuisine becomes a lot more fun.
Food and cuisine are important aspects of any culture. If you are a foodie, picking up the local language can help you discover many little gems that would have been difficult otherwise.
You can ask locals to point you towards the best food joints, haggle over prices, and eat at small local joints. In some cities, each locality has its own twist on the regional dish. Knowledge of the local language can help you explore the regional cuisine thoroughly.
Learning the local language can make you a more empathetic and sensitive person in-tune with the local culture. Plus, the surge of self-confidence in successfully learning and applying a new language makes you more appreciative and accommodating as a person.
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