Nelson Mandela once said: If you speak to him in his language, it will go to his heart. ”
Language is the greatest connection you can make with others. You talk to a lot of people every day. And what do you all share in common? Language.
I’ve been learning languages for about 10 years by memorizing phrases, listening to songs, collecting books, and watching videos online. I’ve been on a long journey and I still have a lot to go on, but I’ve learned a lot over the last few years.
First of all, personality is not the important point when connecting with others. No matter what language is spoken, it is communication between that person. However, most people are afraid of speaking to others who do not speak their language. That’s why language barriers are a huge dilemma in our world today. That’s why people, myself included, are trying to break down that barrier, that wall.
If you picture this, each country in the world is surrounded by its own bubble. All 195 countries. And each of those bubbles internally limits the language and culture of that country. Most people are afraid to pop that bubble and release everything hidden inside.
Especially here in the U.S., says Lorraine Obler, a professor of speech and hearing sciences, Our learning of other languages. ”
Compared to the United States, in Europe more than 65% of the continent can speak at least one other language in their native tongue, compared to 20% in the United States. My dear old Spanish teacher Vanessa Monell said herself that America should make its children bilingual, not monolingual. It is easier for children to start learning a language at the age of 3 or 4, rather than starting to learn a foreign language in middle school. That’s why you need to start as early as possible, even if you’re a college student.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “Americans have relied on other countries to speak our language.” How true is that? Does anyone in the United States see someone speaking a foreign language and think, “Wow, I wish they could speak our language”? “Hey, you’re in America, why don’t you study English?” But if you’re walking down the street in Denmark, for example, and you’re speaking English, the language you learned and have spoken all your life. Please try to imagine. Do people in Denmark think the same way about you? I thought, “Don’t they speak Danish?” or “If you’re in Denmark, why don’t you start speaking our language?” English is not the dominant language in the world.
Breaking news – Mandarin. So don’t expect everyone to speak it. There is no single world language that is universal to all of us. People learn to speak the language they learned at home. The language they knew all their lives was spoken all their lives. No matter where you are in the world.
So, you may be thinking, why do I need to learn a new language? What’s the point anyway if people just speak in whatever language they’re comfortable with? You just said it yourself.
That’s where you’re wrong. Want to try a new language? Even multiple languages. You yourself can help break down the barriers that have been a crisis for many years. Do you know the smile that appears on someone’s face when you speak to them in their language?
A few years ago, a father and son came into the local bakery where I worked. The son was translating for his father, but he couldn’t fully understand what was being said through the mask. His father apologized to me for not being good at English, so since I’m good with languages, I decided to ask him what language he speaks. He replied to me, “Spanish!” and asked if he knew Spanish among other languages. I told him a little about my travels and spoke some Spanish. It was a healthy conversation that enriched my day, and having someone willing to speak his native language, I hope he was able to have the same experience as other customers.
Let’s talk about the rewards of it all. Learning just one new word in German, even if it’s something as simple as “Guten Abend” or “Hello”, will make you feel proud of yourself. If you keep earning these small rewards over and over again, you might find yourself in Germany someday walking up to someone and saying, “Hello, Guten Abend.” Do you know the director? From there, you can have a full conversation with that person. This is a task that may have previously seemed impossible.
You can communicate with more people than you think. Why are we isolated to just one country? You can also expand your horizons and have conversations with people from other countries. More travel and work opportunities. If you apply for a job as a bilingual person, they may choose someone who is trilingual over you.
That being said, would you dedicate yourself to learning a language to break through the language barrier? If you don’t already appreciate language classes, will you start appreciating them more now? I will . I dedicate my life’s goal to it.
Even if you’re scared to start, the important thing is that the world needs to know that you’re trying and willing to speak their language. You will see that beaming smile on their face and feel proud that their language is recognized, learned and valued by others. Therefore, speaking your native language is a very nice thing to begin with. But learning and speaking a new language is really valuable.
So, I would like to continue my journey. Would you like to start too?