chapter 01 (only text)
Chapter 1: Why do you want to learn another language?
We live in a multilingual world where building quality connections is the key to a happy professional life. Especially during challenging times such as recessions and pandemics, we have learned that building quality connections has become more critical than ever.
Gone are the days when forming connections with others was limited to your neighbors or people in your city. With the world turning into a global village quickly, networking opportunities extend beyond the national boundaries.
We now know that networking is the key to the hour. But one might wonder- What is the secret ingredient that helps in networking? The most suitable answer for this question is- being multilingual.
If you are thinking that learning a new language is not a cakewalk, you are right. It comes with its own challenges and demands. But it isn't difficult either. All it requires is for you to be motivated enough to learn a new language and explore the world outside the confines of your national language and territory.
Motivation is the key to success
Every individual is different. Some of us have an internal drive to learn new things and explore great ideas. Such people look at successful people around them and get self-motivated to work hard.
On the other hand, many of us require a push to kickstart the learning process. Such people need an immense amount of motivation and inspiration to try out things outside their comfort zone. Learning a new language can be one of them!
Let me tell you a story of a young boy who loved to play basketball since the early years of his life. He always watched tall guys playing the game, and it gave him a sudden rush of adrenaline. During his sophomore year, he tried to become a part of the basketball team of his high school. Alas! He was left out of the basketball team.
The reason for leaving him out was his height. The boy was only 5'9" tall, while all the other players were at least six feet tall. So even after playing well in the shortlisting match, he lost his spot to his classmate only because he was taller.
This type of incident would destroy a youngster's dream of becoming a professional basketballer. Most people would give up and try their hands on something else, something more achievable. But this boy was different. He had made up his mind that he will not face a similar situation ever again.
Ever since he got kicked out of the team selection, he worked hard every day. He made it a point to practice every day without fail. Due to his constant practice, he soon shot up to a height of 6'3". The rigor of the disciplined approach made him achieve that feat.
The following year, he attempted the team selection game again, securing a place in the team and never looking back. Of course, the boy I am talking about is Michael Jordan. From being a part of the winning teams of two Olympic games to being crowned as the 'Most Valuable Basketball Player' five times by the NBA, Jordan totally dominated the sport.
Michael Jordan always believed in one statement, "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." His belief was reflected in his actions, and that made him one of the greatest players ever.
Jordan was a self-motivated individual. But his story continues to inspire and motivate millions of people. Just like Jordan took it upon himself to learn the sport and ultimately master it, you too can learn a new language. All it takes is for you to stay dedicated, motivated, and work hard.
How to motivate yourself to learn a new language?
Learning a new language can be intimidating. The regularity, hard work, research, practice, and application seem like a daunting task. Of course, dozing off on the bed looks more appealing, right?
While all the efforts might sound mammoth, there are many tangible benefits of being bilingual or multilingual better! All it takes is to be motivated at every step of the way.
Motivation doesn't always have to come from stories. It can come from small actions taken regularly.
So if you are looking for a bit of push to kickstart your journey, here are few ways in which you can motivate yourself:
1. It doesn't have to be so hard:
Learning a new language doesn't require you to go back to school with 6 hours of continuous involvement every day. When it comes to learning a new language, you can set your own pace. This book has been drafted keeping the angle of motivation in mind.
When you go through this book, set your own pace of grasping new things. The chapters and text have been drafted in a way that you can break it down into mini-chapters, learn quickly with a self-made schedule and gradually make it a part of your daily conversation. It really doesn't have to be so hard, after all!
2. Have mini-goals in mind:
The best way to reach the final outcome is to divide the journey into small goals that you can achieve daily. Every time you sit down to study the language, remind yourself of the goal. Take one mini-goal at a time and ace it.
A sense of achievement always brings in the sense of motivation to achieve more. When you set small goals and achieve them, you become accustomed to that practice, which sets a new pace for your learning. So be in it, to win it!
3. Remind yourself of the final outcome:
Whenever you feel bogged down in your learning journey, remind yourself of the final outcome. If you want to learn a new language to enhance your employability, recall that. If your goal is to be able to converse fluently in a foreign language on your next trip to your favorite destination, stay reminded of that.
When I wanted to learn a new language, I always visualized myself walking in a restaurant and ordering my favorite dish or talking to the cab driver in the new language for discussing the daily news. It always lifted up my mood and helped me in strengthening my efforts of learning. So, whatever final outcome you have set your eyes on, keep yourself reminded of that every day.
4. Mix up how you learn:
If you think reading this book alone will help you in mastering the art of speaking a new language, you are mistaken. This stands true for any book that you read to upgrade your skills.
Learning doesn't come by reading alone. You have to implement it. In the case of a new language, you can always mix up the way you learn. For example, you can refer to the book to understand the concept and examples, use the same ideas to write something meaningful, and start talking to affluent people in the language you are trying to learn. Such a practice would speed up your learning curve and enable an all-round learning experience for you.
5. Set a fixed time every day to study:
Discipline is an essential virtue, especially during one's learning phase. The best way to be disciplined in your learning journey is to set a fixed time apart every day that is dedicated solely to learning the new language.
This practice will help you in two ways. Firstly, you will be regular with your learning process, which will help you grasp the concepts better. Secondly, it will build a sense of discipline that you will continue even after you have mastered the language. Doesn't that add more value to giving your best attempt at learning anything new?
6. Give yourself mini rewards:
Our brain is a strange organ. It responds to gifts and rewards. When you try to learn a new language or skill, you can use the brain's traits to your advantage. The easiest way of doing this is by rewarding yourself.
When you accomplish the mini-goals that you have set for yourself, give yourself mini-rewards. Such a practice is an excellent way of keeping yourself motivated. The rewards could be as simple as eating your favorite ice cream, watching the movie you had been putting off due to the stress of learning, or anything you want to do.
This practice will help tap into the pleasure part of your brain and give you a sense of accomplishment. Your brain will then understand that when you are successful in achieving your goals, something pleasurable happens. When that happens, all you need to do is remind yourself of the reward, and you will feel an instant rush of motivation. Try it out!
7. Stop procrastinating:
Procrastination is evil. It can put your progress behind manifolds. We are often used to putting things to the next day, but it takes many days for that 'next day to come up for many of us. So you have to understand to let go of such thoughts, focus on your end goal, and follow the routine with utmost sincerity. Only you can make yourself a pro at anything new, remember that!
As human beings, we have an inherent desire to learn and grow. While the desire can be short-lived at one point, the only way to make it to the end is to see the final results by keeping yourself motivated.
No great man has ever done great things differently. They just did things with sincerity, hard work and motivation. You can be just as successful in learning a new language if you follow the tips I mentioned above.
Now that we have fully motivated and pumped up to learn a new language let us understand how learning that language can benefit us.
Benefits of learning a new language:
All of us are a part of a global economy where everyone is trying to excel and attract success. However, while we master multiple things to be successful, some of us overlook the importance of language.
In today's interconnected world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that often provides us with skills to engage with people from around the globe in a more meaningful way.
There are many benefits of learning a new language. Let's look at this one by one:
1. Establishes new connections:
One of the best abilities of human beings is the power to connect and socialize with others. The ability of socialization is further supported by our ability to communicate in a language that the people around us understand.
Bilinguals or multilingual do a better job at connecting with others. This is because their national boundary does not limit them. They can communicate with many people, learn about their lives, make professional progress- all of this while sounding like a local. It will help in forming long-lasting relations- personal as well as professional solely because of your ability to communicate in a language that the other person understands.
2. Speeds up your career advancements:
Being bilingual or multilingual can give you a powerful advantage over people who are proficient in only one language. In fact, the ability to speak in more than one language is one of the eight most desirable qualities in professionals. In fact, between the years 2010-2015, the number of job postings in the US with a requirement of bilingual candidates shot up by nearly 100%.
The reason for such a trend is simple. The world is becoming largely interconnected, and organizations have multiple teams from different geographies working on common projects. This is why employers seek professionals who can easily communicate in multiple languages to ensure a seamless flow and understanding of information amongst the teams.
Additionally, some organizations also reward their multilingual employees. Thus, it always opens up a new avenue of earning more than your peers. Whatever your goal is, being able to speak multiple languages will always put you on top!
3. Serves as fodder for your brain:
Learning a new language comes with multiple cognitive benefits. It is also believed that people with proficiency in more than one language possess better decision-making and critical thinking skills. Such individuals also have a longer concentration span and a better knack for problem-solving.
As compared to monolinguals, bi or multilingual people are better skilled at multitasking. This statement comes from their increased concentration levels which helps them in quickly finishing up their tasks with utmost creativity and flexibility.
Leaving the cognitive benefits aside, people with the ability to speak more than one language can also preserve their mental abilities in their old age compared to monolinguals. Wouldn't you want to be just as sharp in your late 60s?
4. Develops a deeper sense of connection with the world:
When you know a foreign language, you are blessed with the ability to understand the culture, values, and literature of the geography it is most practised in. This enables you to better appreciate and respond to their various arts, religions, people, and communities.
The great connection so developed helps you in being more understanding, empathetic, and accepting of others. These highly-regarded virtues become a part of your everyday life and shape you into a better individual. Such is the power of learning a new language!
5. Travel the world like a local:
Are you a travel buff? Does going to new places and exploring foreign geographies excite you? If yes, having a stronghold of a language that its natives speak will add to your travel experience and make you feel at home, just like a local.
Monolingual people can visit the same places mentioned in their itineraries. On the other hand, bilinguals or multilinguals have the power to go out of their traveling bubble and explore the area and its people as true locals. Such opportunities are inaccessible to monolinguals.
6. Boosts your confidence:
Confidence is the key to excel in every walk of life- personal and professional combined. When it comes to learning and eventually being fluent in a second language, it boosts up the confidence level of individuals, thus making them better prepared for the world.
Learning any new skill or language comes with a gazillion errors and mistakes made on the way to the discovery. Oftentimes, these mistakes are made in front of an audience. It can be during a normal conversation, written communication, or addressing a big group of individuals. While it can make you feel shy for the first few times, it will eventually make you more humble and confident. You will start embracing your mistakes, learn from them and become a better speaker.
It requires you to move out of your comfort zone. That is a good thing because nothing remarkable happens when you are in your own comfortable bubble. On the flip side, it will fill you with a lot of confidence when you start talking to others in a new language.
7. Strengthens your decision-making abilities:
A few years ago, some second language acquisition researchers discovered that the decisions taken by an individual in his second language are far more rational than the ones made in the native language. As cited by them, the reason was the involvement of a reason-driven approach that is reinforced better when the thinking is done in one's second language.
This is because when we make decisions in our native language, we are under the influence of emotional responses and biases that stem from it. This often results in decisions that lack a systematic and fact-based thought process.
8. Helps in gaining perspective:
When you learn a new language, you are better able to compare your existing knowledge and the new wisdom you gain. Right from professional understanding to cultural or regional understanding, you gain a perspective in all of it.
As human beings, we are naturally conditioned to draw parallels between the new and the familiar. Learning a new language might explore you to foreign cultures and the multitude of positive as well as negative aspects associated with it. It might help you be more appreciative of what you have and more thoughtful of what you seek!
9. Improves your first language:
Does this sound bizarre to you? Trust me; it isn't. When we learn a new language, we are exposed to multiple words and phrases that become a part of our daily vocabulary. With this, you become more conscious of the nuts and bolts of your first language, and you tend to absorb it more intuitively.
In fact, learning a new language is known to make you a better listener. During conversations, you are more focused on listening and understanding what the other person says and conscious of the sentences that you form in response. So listening is definitely a virtue, isn't it?
10. Makes you patient:
Learning a new language or skill demands a lot of patience. You are bound to make a gazillion mistakes in the process. The only way to rectify them and learn the right thing is by being patient throughout the process.
The patience so developed gets ingrained in your nature and becomes your natural response to many situations. Also, it comes in very handy while dealing with multiple tasks and stakeholders at work.
In a globalized world where mobility is looked forward to, learning a new language can prove to be a boon for every individual. Be it traveling, studying, or exploring new career opportunities, it will come in handy and give you an unfair advantage over your competitors.
We have now seen the myriad of benefits that a language brings with itself. But in a highly multilingual world with more than 6000 languages spoken by people in different geographies, how should one choose the correct language to learn?
There is a simple answer to this question- Research about the language spoken by the natives of the country you want to build a network in. In today's world, organizations have a large employee base in multiple foreign countries. The language that usually ties them together is English for obvious reasons.
If you are not a native English speaker, it is important for you to have a stronghold of the language. There are many benefits of learning and mastering the English language. Let's find out the reasons that make English the best language to learn.
Why do most people study English?
Imagine this: You have a superpower that can help you in tiding over many difficult situations. This power helps you in unlocking many different doors that were once shut for you. Wouldn't that make things, especially on the professional front, easier?
This superpower can be the English language.
Don't stop imagining! Visualize using this superpower to jump straight into otherwise tough situations, solve difficult problems, communicate with people, and express your views with utmost grace and sincerity.
With such a superpower, nothing can stop you from being a superhero! This is the exact reason why most people channelize their energies towards learning English as their second language. Or even third, in some cases.
English is by far the most studied language, and more than 23% of people communicate in English every day for personal and professional conversations. These are not static numbers. They keep increasing daily, thus making it one of the essential languages in the world.
There are many reasons why people study English. Let's look at some of the most important reasons one by one:
1. Fluency in the English language opens a lot of career opportunities:
Ever since the world has become interconnected, a multitude of bright career opportunities can be found outside one's national territory. However, this global interconnection has made one thing clear: more and more countries are advertising positions where knowing more than one language is essential. It might not even be the immediate need for the role, but it is crucial for effective professional communication.
While your education and accolades play a significant role in securing an excellent professional opportunity, having a command over a second language can give you an unfair advantage. If your second language is English, your chances of bagging newer options will increase manifolds.
Being fluent in English will ensure easy communication with peers and colleagues across the world. As a result, this is one of the most sought-after skills, especially by companies with an international presence. Therefore, a career advancement necessarily calls for fluency in the English language.
2. The English language compliments your voyage plans:
English is a widely spoken language, even in countries that have a different mother tongue. When you are fluent in English, your travel plans become easy.
If you are a Polish person holidaying in Spain, the chances are that your hotel receptionist wouldn't be able to address your concerns in Spanish. However, she would likely be able to do so in English.
It doesn't matter if you visit all French, all Mandarin, all German or any other country with a different native language, you will always find English-speaking people there.
In all countries, English has become an important language for carrying out daily business activities. This has made the general public accustomed to talking in English. Therefore, when you visit these countries, communication will never be a problem.
Here's a tip: When you visit foreign countries, try to learn a couple of words from their language and use them while talking to them. It would be a very polite gesture full of respect.
3. The English language can improve your understanding of science.
English is the language of science. Period.
If you ever wish to learn or contribute to the world of science, especially research, doing so would require a good grasp of English. This is because almost all the research done in multiple disciplines under science and technology is published in English. Even the abstracts ( or summaries) of most research papers are written in English so that students from across the globe can access and understand them.
If you plan to study in American Medical Schools, you have to master the art of English. I am saying this because most med schools in America have a compulsory requirement of English as a part of their coursework. Many other countries follow a similar practice.
4. English is the language of the Internet:
Have you noticed that more than half of the total content available on the Internet is written in English? It is estimated that nearly 565 million people access the Internet regularly, and about 52% of the most visited global sites have English text.
Most of these have been written in English, from global news and business affairs to entertainment, gaming, or even memes. Missing out on learning the language means missing out on the fun that comes with it!
Not just the fun part, if you are a tech geek aspiring to work for one of the leading technology companies in the world, you will have to be fluent in English. This comes from the fact that most tech companies are based out of English-speaking countries.
5. English is the language of the popular culture:
Have you ever listened to a new English song and wished you could understand and speak its lyrics? Or you wanted to understand legendary books written by world-famous writers, but you couldn't because those are written in English?
Many people face similar situations, and this also becomes an important reason behind learning the language. Most of the popular culture, as we know it today, is in the English language. Therefore, understanding the language means learning the culture and becoming a passive part of it.
6. English is easy to learn:
We have discussed many big reasons why people prefer learning English over any other language. While all of those reasons hold great merit, one of the most important reasons behind choosing this language is the ease of learning.
English is not a challenging language. While the vocabulary and pronunciation might be difficult to learn sometimes, it is relatively straightforward to understand the grammar used to sew the sentences together as compared to other European languages.
English is an essential language in today's world. This fact is well established by now.
It is the language of art, science, history, medicine, and various other disciplines. If you want to access and understand as much as possible for yourself without being heavily reliant on a translator, it is time for you to start learning this language.
The further chapters in this book will help you understand the nitty-gritty of the language in the simplest form. So be ready to go on the journey to be fluent in verbal and written English and surprise yourself with the world of opportunities that it will open for you!
