by Daniel G. O'Leary

Created on: March 02, 2011

In the world in which we live, technological advancements in communication systems now afford us, people the world over, the ability to communicate in every conceivable way nearly instantaneously. So the capability is now there, the desire is definitely there, and knowing the language of the people you are trying to communicate with is the remaining obstacle - especially in America.

The vast majority of Americans speak one language fluently, English, which makes sense since it is the language of Our country. In Our cities and towns, there are some large concentrations of Our population that speak another language by choice or out of necessity (recently immigrated or children of immigrants).

The immigrants that flock to Our shores, tend to come in waves that are driven by some circumstance that demanded their immediate departure from the land of their birth. Presently, we have a huge influx of Spanish-speaking, Chinese-speaking, and Indian (from India)-speaking immigrants, many of which already speak fluent English. Why you ask?

Because their former country's governments realized how necessary and important it was for their citizens to speak English so that commerce could be greatly increased with English-speaking countries. Since they spoke English, and while working, they learned of Our freedoms, and they hungered for such freedom. So, when they could, they left and came here. Or as we are seeing now on a grand scale, those that didn't leave are continually lobbying for changes at home that will at some point make freedom a possibility there.

People that speak multiple languages have a great advantage because it has been proven that more areas of the brain are utilized/stimulated. The increase in stimulation assists other areas as well. The result? Better comprehension, memory gains, clearer thought, more significant multitasking, and best of all, they can communicate directly with a much larger amount of people the world over, utilizing all the new technological advancements.

People that speak multiple languages fluently can: learn from multiple sources, network globally, be much more timely and competitive at home and abroad, increase market share, expand the business, and improve their social life.

As parents, teachers, employers, coaches, it is in all our best interests to speak more than one language, to encourage our children/students to speak an additional language fluently by our example, to reinforce the use of the language learned by traveling to a destination where it can be used (i.e. a restaurant, a town, a city, a resort, another country).

During these times, with necessary heightened security while traveling, knowing multiple languages can be extremely beneficial for increasing your awareness as to what's going on around you. If in law enforcement or health care, knowing multiple languages can easily mean the difference between life and/or death. That's significant, wouldn't you agree?

The bottom line: learning foreign languages is extremely important now more than ever because it provides you/us with the means to be heard, and communicating is essential to survival. Those that communicate the best - that are heard, that are understood, and that understand - excel, and life becomes richer, more meaningful, even more significant!

Isn't it worth the effort to better your circumstance, to enrich your life, to provide every opportunity to your children, your family to have life without bounds, the freedom and the savvy to communicate at will, knowing that you will be understood? Of course it is! Stimulate your mind, enrich your heart, set the example and learn a foreign language! You'll be glad you did!

Shall we begin?

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