Why Language Learning Should Be Your Top Priority

Language learning takes time. It requires a lot of time and effort to reach a communicative level, and even more to become fluent. Not to mention, language courses are a solid investment. A few months of an intense language course might just cost you the equivalent of a luxury holiday. 

So, it is true that there are many barriers on the path to learning a new language. But for every obstacle, there are at least two benefits. In this article, we will show you why language learning should be your top priority.

Top benefits of learning a new language

1. Boosts employability
2. Improves communication
3. Makes you more open-minded
4. Increases self-confidence
5. Expands horizons
6. Makes you more interesting as a person
7. Makes travel easier
8. Stimulates your brain
9. Provides entertainment 

1. Boosts employability

At Europe Language Jobs, we always say that languages are keys that open doors to new opportunities. The more of them you have, the more doors you can open. 

Speaking another language is a huge advantage in the job market. Employers value multilingual candidates and are willing to offer them attractive benefits and high salaries.

Our job board proves this - we list hundreds of job offers around all of Europe, and all of them require at least two languages. The demand for language speakers is so high, it has become a separate sector of the job market.

Just like improving other hard skills necessary for your job is a foolproof way to increase your attractiveness as a candidate, learning a new language boosts your employability. 

What’s more, language skills are universal because they can be used in every role. So, if you decide to change careers at some point in your life and need to develop in new areas, your ability to speak another language will remain relevant. 

2. Improves communication

Approximately 20% of the world’s population speaks English. So, if you can read this article, you can already communicate with 1/5th of people on Earth - congratulations!

Another 7.5% of people can speak Spanish. So, if you speak Spanish and English, you can talk to almost 30% of the population. 

We could go on, but you probably already know where we are going with these calculations. Every language you learn expands the pool of people you can talk to with no barriers.

Of course, communication with a language barrier in the way is still possible. If there’s a will, there is a way, and even communicating in gestures is absolutely fine if it gets the message across.

But it is much nicer to be able to carry out a conversation on any topic without bending over backwards to convey your meaning. Even a basic or intermediate level of a language makes communication easier. 

3. Makes you more open-minded

When learning a new language, you also learn about culture. Cultural awareness is the first step towards fighting ignorance, which is the root cause of conflict. 

The more we learn about foreign cultures, the more we grow to appreciate them. Understanding the language also allows us to understand the people who speak it more substantially.

Learning about another culture in the language it is connected to brings the experience to another, deeper level. It opens the mind and makes us cherish cultural differences.

Appreciating differences and bridging gaps between contexts makes us more tolerant. We are programmed to distrust the unknown, so once we understand new concepts, the reluctance is replaced with respect. 

4. Increases self-confidence

Being somewhere you don’t speak the language and aren’t familiar with the culture can be a stressful experience. Nobody likes feeling like they don’t belong, and it’s natural to be self-conscious in such a scenario.

A standard reaction in this case is to avoid going places we don’t know much about. This can be a huge setback because the world has so much to offer, and it would be a shame to miss out on amazing experiences because anxiety is holding us hostage.

Language learning is a solution to this issue. It feels good to look in the mirror and say: “I speak 3 languages”. Learning a new language is an achievement - one that requires a lot of hard work and determination. 

The boost in self-confidence provided by learning languages is not limited to travel, though. Being multilingual can make you believe in yourself more in various contexts: social, professional, and personal.

Walking into a job interview knowing you have a few different languages listed on your CV will have you lift your chin a little higher. Talking to a stranger in their native language at a social gathering will make you proud. And remembering that you’re multilingual in moments of doubt will just make you feel good about yourself. 

5. Expands horizons

Language learning makes us more open-minded and confident. This, in turn, stretches out our limits until our comfort zone becomes much bigger than it used to be.

With every new language you learn, going to faraway countries, meeting new people, and collecting exciting experiences seems less daunting. You start thinking about travelling further, achieving more, and making new memories.

You also get a broader perspective on current affairs, international politics, or even interpersonal relations. Your point of view expands along with your horizons, helping you develop opinions on topics you hadn’t been aware of before. 

6. Makes you more interesting as a person

Open-mindedness, confidence, and a broad perspective are all traits language learning gives us. They are also traits that often draw us to other people.

We have already written about why living abroad makes you more attractive. Being multilingual works similarly. 

Someone who can speak several languages, is familiar with foreign cultures and has an opinion about different topics is definitely a candidate for a stimulating conversation. Language learning also proves dedication, which is another trait many find attractive.

Not to mention, there is a certain touch of exoticness to every multilingual. Hearing a foreign accent triggers some level of intrigue in most of us. Many people simply find the fact of speaking languages attractive.

And we don’t only mean romantically. Being multilingual genuinely makes you a more interesting person in the most platonic way, simply because you have the knowledge somebody else doesn’t. 

As humans, we like to learn new things and are drawn to the unknown, so someone speaking languages we’re not familiar with immediately puts them in the “interesting” category. 

7. Makes travel easier

Knowing the language isn’t essential when travelling. In fact, only visiting places where we speak the local language would drastically limit our list of destinations. There are only so many languages you can learn in a lifetime, and a range of beautiful places in the world waiting to be explored.

But we won’t deny that travelling is more pleasurable and less stressful if you know at least the basics of the language. Talking to the locals is one of the best aspects of travel. Speaking their language will help you form deeper bonds and earn you their respect.

If you find yourself in trouble, asking for directions or help in the locals’ native language can also be more effective, as not everyone speaks English. And again, experiencing the culture through the language tied to it makes the experience more significant.

This is why we always recommend to learn at least a few basic phrases in the local language before going abroad. Failing to do this is one of the most common travel mistakes. 

8. Stimulates your brain

Several studies prove the brain benefits of learning a foreign language. Essentially, just like with acquiring any other skill, learning a new language increases the density of grey matter in the brain. 

The more languages you learn, the more active your brain is. This, in turn, improves your cognitive intelligence - which basically means there are more connections between different areas of your brain. It helps in areas such as multitasking, performing under pressure, or coming up with new ideas on the spot. 

Other benefits of learning different languages for your brain include improved memory, a higher probability of delaying diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s by a few years, and decreased levels of stress. 

Multilingualism is not an ability one can just switch off. Once you learn to speak more than one language, it stays in your brain forever. Your mind adjusts and begins coding information in different languages. 

This means language speakers need to sort through different codes when performing even the most basic tasks. Your brain gets a constant workout without you even realising it. And it’s good for you! 

9. Provides entertainment

Language learning can be fun! The times when languages were taught in stuffy classrooms from massive textbooks are long gone. 

Now, you can incorporate language learning into your daily tasks and passively acquire new knowledge while working or relaxing. 

You can chill in the evening, playing around with a fun language app. You can deflate after work by watching films in other languages. You can listen to podcasts or music or read books in a foreign language. 

You can join language exchange groups, language cafés, find penpals in other countries, or sign up for online tutoring if you don’t want to leave home. 

Learning a new language doesn’t have to be associated with long evenings spent memorising vocabulary or trying to figure out convoluted grammar rules. Yes, classic methods are still effective sometimes, but the variety of resources available these days is so broad, that everyone will find something for themselves.

That is not to say that language learning takes no effort at all. You will still need huge amounts of dedication, systematicity, and perseverance. Learning another language is a journey, but you can make at least parts of this process fun. 
 

We hope there are no doubts left as to why language learning should be your top priority now. The top benefits of learning a new language include helping you stand out on the job market, making you more communicative, confident, and open-minded, and providing the exercise your brain needs. Not to mention, language learning can provide entertainment and open up so many doors.

Do you already speak a few languages? What are you waiting for? Check out our job offers for multilinguals in Europe now!

Feeling inspired? Visit our blog for more career advice! How can you be sure the information we provide is top-notch? We are a group of professionals working with recruiters, career coaches, and HR specialists from all over the world! 

Trust our experience and let us help you find a new job in Europe!