Toni-Ann Neita, staff writer<Today, many people know that getting ahead requires continuing education. To many this means earning an MBA or a master's degree in your area of specialty, or even some combination of degrees. But the means to advancement may be as simple as learning a second language.
Languages are keys to the world. The continuous expansion of international relations makes the knowledge of foreign languages a critical need for today's professional and future professionals.
Not long ago, it was automatically assumed that anyone studying a foreign language as a major field was either going to be a teacher, an interpreter, or a translator and had no other career options. Things are changing. A second language is now becoming a vital part of the basic preparation for an increasing number of careers.
Jamaicans need to realise that the whole world does not speak English. "I'll never use it, so I don't need to learn it," sounds silly in the context of this increasingly international business world.
Clearly, opportunities abound to use a foreign language even when language skills are not centrally important in your field. In fact, business success may depend on those skills, in addition to training in your area of expertise.
Crossing yourself of the list of well-suited candidates for a promotion, in the corporate world, is never recommended. As our business world becomes more competitive and globally oriented, lack of foreign language skills may well be the delineating factor.
Whatever language you choose, learning it will make a difference in how you see the world and in how the world sees you.
Benefits for children
Students may not be fully aware of the value of learning a second language, but more parents are recognising that knowing a second language will give their children many advantages in the future, in both their professional and personal lives.
Children may not have to wait for the future to reap the benefits of a second language. Studies have shown that children derive many immediate benefits from learning a second language including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills.
The study of a second language also contributes to improved communicative ability in a person's first language. Some evidence also suggests that children who receive second language instruction are more creative.
Professionals who know other languages are called on to travel and exchange information with people in other countries throughout their careers.
An employer will see you as a bridge to new clients or customers if you know a second language.
Thus, when a resume indicates knowledge of a second language, the chances of getting the desired job increase. Hence the saying: "A person who speaks two languages is worth two people."
Being bilingual, or better yet multilingual, not only helps one get a job, but often is a significant factor in advancement within a company. For example, a hotel manager or a customer service representative who knows English and Spanish, or English and another language, may look much better at promotion time than one who knows only English.
Employees with multiple language skills are in increased demand because increasing global trade requires employees to understand and relate to customers from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Secondly, one of our major industries, tourism and hospitality, requires staff who speak the language of the visitors they are welcoming.
The benefits in trade and tourism are obvious. But the most beautiful thing about adding a foreign language to your repertoire is that the benefits are not restricted to any particular discipline or career path; they are potentially valuable to all.
A few of the occupations for which a second language is essential or useful are interpreter, translator, linguist, teacher, writer, journalist, foreign correspondent, foreign exchange clerk, banker, tour guide, travel agent, flight attendant, ticket agent, hotel manager, director, receptionist, salesperson, missionary, nurse, doctor, customs inspector, immigration inspector, courier and diplomat.
The demand for multilingual personnel extends to all fields of human enterprise and will continue to grow in the coming years.
Some other nice things about learning more than one language is that the education is intended to open doors in the future, not only to meet specific current needs; the benefits and the opportunities extend through life. Also, the benefits are not dependent on an unrealistically high level of expertise; just having basic proficiency is itself of value.
The benefits to the society are many. Jamaicans fluent in other languages enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, improve global communication, and maintain our political and security interests.
Personal and
cultural experiences
A less obvious but nonetheless compelling reason to study another language rests in the power that languages have to promote cultural understanding between people of different backgrounds.
The study of language also has benefits for travel. Second language skills can be a 'passport' to the world (no pun intended) in that those who speak and understand more than one language often find it easier to benefit fully from travel and interactions with people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Every language a person masters will enhance their enjoyment and reduce their frustration and isolation as they travel around the world.
Second language skills can also be the key to a richer personal and cultural life. For example, being able to enjoy a wider variety of literature, music, theatre, art, sports and movies.
For men, knowing a beautiful, romantic language can't hurt when courting a lady!
And there are always those who just want to learn a language. "I have always loved the idea of being multilingual," says Traci Ferguson, a first year French major at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Of course she also admits that it doesn't hurt that languages open up so many doors.
She intends to pursue a career in which being multilingual will be an asset.
Where and when
Newsweek devoted a special edition to the critical first three years of a child's life and indicated that there is a "window of opportunity" for second language learning starting at age one.
Don't fret. Although studies show the sooner a child begins to learn a second language the better, starting a foreign language as an adult is not futile.
Of course it doesn't happen overnight. Like math, or other subjects, language learning takes time. It's a long-term process; not something you can pick up in a weekend, or even a few weeks, of intensive study.
"Among a lot of Jamaicans there is a misguided notion that a language can be learned in a few months," says Gillian Urquhart-Gonzalez, owner and manager of The Spanish Academy, located here in Kingston. "It takes dedication, time and quite a bit of studying," she warns.
The Spanish Academy is one of the many places across the island where Jamaicans of all ages can learn a language for a few thousand dollars per month of classes. Although they specialise in Spanish, others like the Language Training Centre Ltd., also located in Kingston, offer a wide variety of languages.
How much can you learn? Depending on how long you study, you can gain different levels of fluency.
After about a year of foreign language instruction, a reasonable working proficiency in a foreign language can be achieved; allowing the person to function reasonably well in ordinary situations. You will probably not sound like a native speaker. Don't worry; you are not expected to.
Like all learning, the success level depends on many factors, including the skill of the teacher and the design of the course, as well as the diligence and motivation of the student. Specific features of the student's native language and the language being learned may also have an effect.
About three years of classes are required for the average person to become relatively fluent.
To learn a language in a shorter period of time, living in a country that speaks the language, for about a year, is a better option. In fact, a prolonged visit to a country that speaks the language is a good idea even if one chooses to learn via formal lessons. It will cement what you have learned and add a few finishing touches that classroom lessons can never provide.
When you are finished, you might even decide to start still another language. No, it's not a crazy idea. When you study a language, learning the next one is said to be easier.
Thus, invest in language classes or invest in a trip to learn a language. Either option is a relatively small price to pay for what can be deemed a solid investment in your child's or your own future.
A second language must no longer be considered the 'frill' that it is by some, but rather as a very essential 'stitch' in the fabric of our lives.
