by M. Sparga

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 17, 2009

Learning a foreign language can help you out no matter how much or how little you actually end up using it, whether you're living abroad for school or work, or just hoping to impress a date as you order dinner at an ethnic restaurant. Knowing a foreign language can help you stand apart from other applicants for a job, ease your travels in an exotic land, or at least just broaden your awareness in this increasingly globalized world. If anything, you'd be hard pressed to find a reason *not* to study a foreign language.

Business

With today's technology, it's easier than ever to meet, interact, and, in short, do business with people from all over. A simple flight can take you anywhere in the world, and with teleconferences and email, you don't even need to do that in order to have international business transactions take place. Many companies have offices, research centers, and factories in different countries where multilingual employees can flourish.

These companies will most likely have suppliers, distributors, and clients who speak a foreign language, and business meetings with them are inevitable. If you are able to make a presentation to these stakeholders in their native language, it can greatly ease the business process and make you invaluable to the company. Or if you work as a customer service representative, you can similarly put your foreign language to use. You can help answer questions and make sure everyone is seeing eye to eye. A smooth business transaction will make them want to come back for more.

Even if you don't have to use a foreign language for in-person meetings or presentations, perhaps the company's website needs to have translated versions available for online visitors. If you are able to put your foreign language skills to use, you might have found yourself an ongoing role for the company, since website content constantly needs to be updated.

Travel

It goes without saying that if you vacation anywhere where a foreign language is the norm, you can save yourself a lot of hassle if you've had some exposure to that foreign language. Many people can get by with just a few of the basics: key phrases ("Where is the bathroom?"), those polite "magic words" ("Please," "thank you"), etc. But if, heaven forbid, you find yourself in an emergency, knowing the local language can help get you out of that situation fast.

Also, knowing the local language makes a great impression on the locals. Some places will give you noticeably better service if you at least

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>