Why is it important to study new languages?

"You should learn languages" This is one of the tips you've probably heard a lot of times. Why are languages so important? What benefits does mastering a foreign language bring?

Here are some reasons why it is worth learning a language. Get motivated and take advantage of your language skills in studies, work and your leisure time!

For studying abroad

Learning a new language can be very useful to get the most out of your training. With a good level of languages you will be able to access many more training options in all levels: International Baccalaureate, Professional Training, university degrees or masters and postgraduate degrees.

The knowledge of more languages will also allow you to access materials and applications in other languages that can be very useful to expand your knowledge and improve your academic performance.

Moreover, in higher education you will often need to know a language, especially Spanish, to take a course and understand the teaching staff in that language. You can even take classes in a Spanish school in Barcelona to mix learning with amazing holidays.

In addition, if you want to study abroad, having a basic or advanced user level will be a key requirement to take advantage of the stay.

Doing business worldwide

In a global world, knowledge of languages has become an essential aspect to find work and advance in the professional career.

If you analyze the job offers, you will see that in most of them it appears as a requirement to master some foreign language like Spanish.

The titles you get will help you to certify your skills, but where you can show that you truly possess the sufficient linguistic skills to develop successfully in the work environment it will be in the job interview.

Knowledge of languages is also key to being able to advance professionally. It is common to use languages in the workplace, either to communicate with other professionals, customers or suppliers, to read or write technical documentation in another language or to work internationally.

Learning a foreign language is also about having fun

In increasingly open and multicultural societies, learning and practicing new languages is much easier.

In addition, knowing languages allows you to read books in a language other than yours, watch series and movies in original version or understand the lyrics of many songs, something that will enrich you a lot on a personal level.

If you like to travel abroad, mastering the language of the country will help you move more freely and interact with people and thus get a more enriching travel experience.

6 keys to success in a foreign language

1. Be clear about your goals: why do you want to study this language? What goal do you pursue? Why is it important for you? Setting a goal will help in your motivation to achieve it.
2. Set yourself realistic goals: analyze well your ability to learn, the difficulty of the language you have chosen and the time you will spend studying. It is important that you set goals that you can achieve; otherwise, the decision will negatively affect your motivation.
3. Organize your time: good time organization is important for any study and will also help you choose the course that suits your schedule and needs.
4. Keep track of your progress: motivation and progress are two aspects that go hand in hand. If you think you are not progressing, your motivation decreases, and vice versa. Write down your small achievements and compare what you knew with what you now know, and so you can set new goals, reformulate what you had and continue to be encouraged with your learning.
5. Do not limit yourself to attending class: if you have chosen a face-to-face course, only attending class you will learn, but you may not be able to achieve all your goals. Learning a language requires perseverance and dedication, so you can complement your training by doing activities that allow you to expand your knowledge.
6. Don't be afraid to talk: many people recognize that reading is good for them, but talking requires a lot more effort. You will only learn to communicate if you practice it, so you should not be afraid not to pronounciation or making mistakes, as these will improve with time.