by John Melendez

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2009

Encouragement for Students of Foreign Languages - Your Efforts Will Pay Off

THE AUTHOR IS A POLYGLOT

I worked hard as a student of language. These years later I am able to speak at least three languages (including English), and a smidgen of a fourth language. As a result of this, my career horizons have been expanded greatly. To read about how knowing another language has helped on the work front, click on this link here.

With this in mind, I have a few things to say about the study of foreign languages.

IF YOU ARE STUDYING NOW

If you are studying now, whatever you do - don't stop!

With the world becoming smaller by the day in this ongoing process that we commonly call "globalization", the ability to communicate with people from other cultures and countries is fast becoming a valuable commodity.

When applying for a job, your ability to speak a foreign language could tip the scales between you and an otherwise much more highly qualified job candidate. Honestly, this has happened for me several times. My ability to speak Chinese made me a shoo-in for the work I have now.

As a student of German and Mandarin Chinese, I can say these years later that I have many interesting stories to tell, as well as invaluable experience that most people otherwise do not have. To read about some of the stories I have as a result of knowing a foreign language, click on this link here.

IF YOU ARE ONLY SEMI-FLUENT

If you are currently studying a foreign language in your homeland and you feel you have run across a brick wall in your ability to learn any further, perhaps you should consider traveling abroad to push you over the edge of that wall.

I ran across a similar wall in my study of the Chinese language some years ago. Luckily I was of a mind and in a good position to do some traveling. While some folks have been able to secure study at Chinese schools, I was lucky enough to secure some work in China and to work in an office among Chinese people. What a difference being overseas made in my language study!

Don't you at all be shy about trying this also!

FLUB YOUR WAY

I have run across some folks who seem to have "hit the wall" of semi-fluency in whatever language they were studying, and they decided to give up because they felt if they traveled overseas, no one would understand them.

This perception is entirely unjustified. Don't let this stop you, most of all for the reason that you cannot prove that you will fail miserably. It's better to go ahead and go overseas to test your new tongue,

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