#1. Knowing another language helps you understand your own language better.
Learning another language forces many to think in the abstract in their native languages. For example, say my native language was English, and I wanted to learn Spanish: one of the first things I would do, should I pick up a copy of El País or the original Spanish version of Don Quixote is to pick out words that look like English ones (we call these kissing cousins cognates). From there, you become curious and wonder how both languages ended up with roughly the same word. Perhaps "author" and "autor" come from the same base...
Lo and behold, you then discover that both words come from the Latin auctor. You have officially made a mental connection that English and Spanish might be related to Latin, and you look for other words to add to your arsenal using the same process. Of course, you'll mangle the pronunciation at first, but never fear: later you will hear people actually say the word, and you'll swallow your pride and self-correct. Once you learn things like verb conjugation and proper sentence structure in the new language, you will discover that there's a whole scheme to ensuring the logic of a sentence. This knowledge leads to better English writing down the road.
#2. Connecting with individuals from around the world helps to expand your range in different areas of business and general exposure.
Have you ever tried a career as a musician? Wanted to make a Youtube video globally popular? How about re-selling things that you purchased on eBay? Perhaps you're maintaining a blog? If you've got something good to share or sell, but your network of viewers and patrons has grown stale, you've got a place to promote your business or interests through enhanced communication skills. Making contact with other people and learning their language allows you to grow your network out to their friends and followers as well, giving you the opportunity to share what you want. As an ESL teacher, I am always looking for more people to prepare for tests. With command in both Spanish and Portuguese, I can reach almost any South American, and my knowledge of both languages allows me to reach even the most extreme of beginners. I'm also trying to pick up Turkish just out of personal interest, which will help me to find new clients and find a potential job in the future.
#3. Communicating with people around the world broadens your perspective about life.
Most Americans never leave their home country. A 2011 CNN report found that just 30% of Americans hold a valid U.S. passport. The reasons are numerous: there's not enough free time, it's too expensive, no clear idea of what you would want to see outside the United States that you can't see here already, etc. However, just because physical travel is onerous, doesn't mean that the barriers that separated citizens of the world in the past are still there. Log on a British news website (i.e. The Daily Telegraph) and peruse the forums. Share your knowledge of Eastern spirituality, rugby or knitting with people in Australia or South Africa. Sure, you can start doing all of this in English, but eventually you find that even non-Anglophones are into the same hobbies you are.
Then you meet that friend from Brazil who shares your love of teaching history: sure, his English isn't that good, but you pick most of his words out. Then you decide that your ignorance of his language and customs bugs you just a bit; suddenly, you're on a Portuguese for Beginners site trying to find a couple words to share with him the next time you talk. Language exchanges sometimes start subtly, but they turn into great friendships over time. From them, you learn about whatever you want. Gain your exchange partner's trust, along with a stronger command of their language, and ask them anything you want to know about their country without having to leave your own (Note: While I will always hold that it's better to actually go to another country to experience its culture, those with limited resources and time still can take advantage of discovering a new perspective on life through foreign pen pals and language exchange partners).
I have some homework for all of you: it can be done over the next week or so, doesn't have to be tomorrow. Pick a country - better yet, a language - and try to learn something new about it. It doesn't have to be anything in-depth or substantial; however, find out how many people in the world speak Arabic or what the Chinese word for "coffee" is. The world has never given us a better opportunity than now to globalize ourselves. Take advantage of having all the information you could ever want at your fingertips. Find some friends half a world away; start learning a language you've been trying to pick up for years; help someone else learn English! Trust me, after doing it for six years, I've found that language exchange partners can be some of the most helpful and captivating friends I have ever made. Have a good night!
P.S. If anyone is serious about learning a new language and doesn't know where to start, consider this video from a brilliant female polyglot from San Francisco!
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