No great nation has ever been left without its language.

In the modern world, knowing a second language has been proven to be beneficial not only on a personal level, but also on a global one. Learning a second language can open new doors in not only your career, but in your life in general, from increased job opportunities to increased travel opportunities abroad.

Learning a foreign language may seem easy, but mastering it is a skill that can be both challenging and frustrating, especially if one does not have the advantage of taking a class or learning with a private tutor at home. Furthermore, if learning the language is forced, it may not be easy to complete successfully, and it may be even more difficult to maintain one’s motivation. However, having a second language can be beneficial in so many ways, providing one with the tools necessary for success.

First, learning a second language can help your career. Many jobs are fields that require workers to communicate effectively with people who are of a different nationality. For example, air traffic controllers, police officers, and surgeons all rely on their ability to communicate with others in order to perform their jobs effectively. However, these jobs depend on being fluent in the language that the particular country uses. For example, air traffic controllers need to be fluent in the native language of the pilots who fly the planes that they control. Likewise, doctors need to be able to communicate with their patients, and in some countries, such as China and Japan, doctors need to be able to communicate in the local language in order to treat their patients successfully. Therefore, learning a foreign language is not only beneficial on a personal level, but it may also help one find a better job once he or she enters the real world.

Second, learning a foreign language can be very beneficial when traveling abroad. While traveling in a foreign country, one needs to be able to communicate with the people there, and one needs to know the country’s language in order to do that. If one does not speak the language of the country, he or she may not be able to get directions, or figure out how much time it will take to travel from one place to another. Moreover, if one does not speak the language of the country, he or she may have trouble finding restaurants, hotels, and stores that accept credit cards, and he or she may be unable to communicate with the waiters and cashiers in those stores. Therefore, learning a foreign language can be extremely beneficial when traveling abroad, especially in a country whose native tongue one does not speak.

Third, learning a foreign language can be extremely valuable on a personal level. Learning a foreign language opens up an entirely new world to one who learned it, as he or she can start new relationships with people of a different nationality. For example, if one were to learn Portuguese, one could communicate with the millions of Brazilians living in other countries, or, since Portugal is located near Brazil, one could also communicate with the millions of Brazilians who cross the border into Portugal. Moreover, if one were to learn Spanish, one could communicate with the millions of Mexicans living in the United States, or, since Spain is located near Mexico, one could also communicate with the millions of Mexicans who have crossed the border into the United States. Therefore, learning a foreign language can be very beneficial on a personal level, not only opening up new friendships, but increasing one’s knowledge of a different culture.

Although learning a foreign language can be difficult, there are specific ways in which a person can learn the language more easily. If one learns the language in a classroom setting, such as in the context of a public school, he or she will be surrounded by people who speak the same language, and this will make it easier to learn the language. If one learns the language with a private tutor, the tutor will be able to teach one the language using his or her own methods, and this will make it easier to learn the language. Furthermore, learning a language online is becoming more and more popular, and there are many websites, such as Duolingo, which teach one a foreign language. Therefore, having a second language is extremely helpful in modern society, and, as was stated earlier, it may well help one find a better job, get around in a foreign country, or make friends with people from another country.