At its essence, language is our tool to communicate with the world. It helps shape our worldview and affects how we interact with each other. It is therefore no wonder that being able to communicate in multiple languages can expand a person’s perspective.
A second language is a valuable skill for any person, be it through opening more opportunities for them to explore, offering an insight into another country’s culture, or just strengthening their own cognitive abilities. With resources available and support provided in the comfort of your own home, it has never been easier to start learning a new language.
Individual benefits
One of the most visible benefits to learning a new language is experiencing a different country’s culture. Language is an ever-evolving medium affected by a country’s culture and how a language develops can therefore reflect the country itself.
The very existence of some words helps offer an insight into that country. For example, if you wanted to learn Danish, you might come across the word ‘Hygge’. This describes a very particular state of being that the Danes felt the need to ascribe a particular word, but very loosely it means ‘it is a state of contentment and warmth’. Just the fact this word exists is an insight into what life is like in Denmark!
Not only that but, on a very basic level, learning a new language can literally make your brain ‘bigger’, as shown in an experiment comparing brain development in students at an intensive language course. It has also been shown to help protect you against age related diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Business benefits
While learning a new language might seem like a personal luxury, it also has positive effects from a job perspective. There is the advantage that speaking another language will make you stand out in the interview process, but there are a number of benefits that knowing another language can add to your work, and to your company as a whole.
Learning another language is an effective way to increase your brains agility, making it much easier to handle many of the common problems faced in the workplace. It makes you better at multi-tasking, improves your memory, and even helps with creativity and problem solving. As a company, if you want to invest in your employees and help make them more effective, providing the opportunity to learn another language may be the most efficient way.
Having more employees able to communicate in a variety of languages also increases a company’s ability to expand effectively. This doesn’t just apply to reaching potential clients. If you’re working within an international business, being multilingual will help with internal communications as well. This will help make your company a more cohesive enterprise, and again, will raise efficiency.
Global Voices Language School
If you want to learn a new language to develop yourself or your employees, you want to ensure that you are using the best possible facilities. Global Voices Language School uses experienced linguists to deliver effective and customised lessons. When learning a new language to help develop your business, or your employability, its important that you learn from a teacher experienced in your industry’s specific syntax and can offer proper context for different language environments.
This is why Global Voices ensures that you only learn from native speakers who have had at least 5 years-experience translating within specific industries. Global Voices understands that learning is a unique experience to everyone, and that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to teaching. That’s why we work hand in hand with our customers to create a learning syllabus that works for you.
With 12 languages to choose from, all the learning material provided, and the option for remote learning or to have the lessons on site, we have the tools and facilities to create the optimal learning package. We also monitor progress throughout the course, so we can adjust the learning plan as needed.
We value the importance of language, and the benefits that come with breaking through language barriers, for personal use and for businesses. Invest in yourself and your employees!