The Financial Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language
Author: Nick
Category: Money
Topics: education
Bonjour! Je voudrais manger votre portefeuille!
If you understand French, you are likely running away in fear while clutching your wallet for dear life (and perhaps questioning my bizarre dietary habits). The rest of you non-Francophones out there will just have to trust that I wasn’t coming on to you.
For us English-speakers, learning a foreign language can seem pretty difficult. It takes years of study to become fluent in a new language, and even then we still find a way to mispronounce a type of cheese so that it instead sounds like a male body part. But that’s okay, because there are many benefits of being able to understand, speak, and write in a foreign language.
Before you decide that taking up a foreign language course or ordering instructional videos is a waste of time, consider some of the ways knowing a foreign language can help your bottom line:
- New business and employment opportunities. It should be obvious that having a foreign language on your resume can only help you score higher-paying and cooler jobs. And if you’re in business for yourself, knowing another language increases your potential customer base.
- Foreign website deals. There is some crazy stuff in the various internet shoppes out there, and some of the craziest stuff is on websites in languages you don’t understand. Learn a foreign language today and order all the Russian brides, Japanese robots, and French toast you want at incredible prices.
- Live in another country. News flash: America is expensive, Zimbabwe isn’t so much. Why spend $300 on an MP3 player in the U.S. when that same $300 can buy you an entire rock band in some third-world nations?
- Write better. People learning foreign languages tend to also learn the intricacies of their own language even better. I learned most of my English grammar skills in my high school French class. And regardless of your career, better writers make more money.
- Talk in “secret code.” You and your business partner are about to close the deal of a lifetime, but you need to discuss a couple of important details with him in private. Unfortunately you’re in their corporate headquarters, so they’ve likely bugged every room. Good thing you both learned Swahili back in college. Now your private conversations can be truly private, and eavesdroppers won’t be able to get an unfair competitive edge.
Once you decide to take up another tongue, the question then becomes which foreign language should you learn? For Americans, the following languages will have the biggest benefit to your finances:
- Spanish. This is a real no-brainer. It is estimated that, by the year 2050, over 300% of America’s population will be of hispanic origins. Understanding Spanish may become as basic as learning English in grade school. Today, knowing a bit of Espanol can help you snag new business clients, make social contacts, and understand more Mexican restaurant menu items than ever before.
- French. The only truly global languages are English and French. It’s an official language of most world governing agencies and organizations like the United Nations, NATO, and the International Red Cross. And if you’d like a job with the U.S. State Department, more positions require or prefer French than all other languages combined.
- Japanese or Korean. As Japan and Korea continue to dominate the world in many industries, learning their languages opens up a world of trade and business opportunities. Plus you can get lots of awesome videogames months before they come out here!
- Chinese. More than a billion people speak it. ‘Nuff said. Or try Hindi; 700 million people in India can’t be wrong!
Whichever language you pick, be sure to stick with it. Read books, take classes, try immersion–whatever works for you. Once you’ve learned one foreign language, the next one is even easier to learn. Soon enough, you’ll be able to walk up to any person on the planet and say, “Can I interest you in some quality Tupperware products?”
Loading ...
44 Responses »
1.
plonkee
September 5th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
They speak English in Zimbabwe.
Last time I started learning a foreign language, it was Dutch. Did you know that its quite hard? And not very useful.
2.
Ozh
September 5th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Off topic: Who Sees Ads version 1.2 is now available
3.
Deals
September 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I live in New Mexico and there is an exception in this case. Eveyone here speaks a local form of Spanish that everyone recognizes as Spanish, but it is a degraded form. It has been passed on orally for hundreds of years without any written culture. I learned spanish in Spain, and despite having excellent credentials, just about any old yokel whose grandma spoke to them in Spanish when they were little can get a “bilingual” position just as easily. Where’s the value?
4.
shraz
September 6th, 2007 at 3:31 am
bonjour =]
5.
Jonathan
September 9th, 2007 at 2:41 am
You forgot that it enables you to try and seduce that rich foreigner and get them to buy lots of gifts for you.
I can’t believe I picked Latin in high school…
6.
Liz1
September 10th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Great! I’m headed for success! Oh wait, you don’t mention Hebrew as one of the languages to learn.
7.
My Trader's Journal
September 11th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I disagree with Deals’ comment above here. I think bilingual for employment generally refers to someone who speaks a more “proper” version of the language.
I (as a recruiter) was staffing a helpdesk requiring bilingual English/Spanish and had a hard time with people who spoke Spanish learned in Puerto Rico compared to Mexico City or southern Spain.
I speak some French and Greek, but not enough to make $ on it.
8.
Olukayode
April 7th, 2008 at 8:37 am
C’est bon! I’m learning French now and its quite interesting. I’m in NIgeria. Learning a foreign language is one of the best things that can ever happen to a man.
9.
Grace Wismer
June 24th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I totally agree with you. The foreign language will certainly benefit our economy. And I’m studing Spanish now!OH,wish all of the foreign language learners luck!
10.
Semy Simmon
June 29th, 2009 at 1:47 am
i just speak chinese and English pretty well. my job and benefit have much realtive with my mastering of both two languages.
11.
Learn Spanish in Peru
June 17th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I speak Spanish and English very fluent, and I’m about to learn Japanese. I really thank my mom for pushing me to study languages… I see the benefits.
12.
Sewage Pumps
August 25th, 2010 at 4:17 am
I strongly agree with your views. The foreign language will certainly benefit our economy.I can speak English very fluently.Anyway thanks a lot.
13.
tamara lowe
October 9th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Your posts are always so interesting and informative. Always do enjoy returning back to read more. I keep your site bookmarked now. Thanks!
14.
USANA
October 28th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Language learning is hard work. If you are going to succeed, you should know what the benefits of learning a foreign language are for you.So thanks a lot for giving us the benefits of foreign language.
15.
discount gucci for sale
November 12th, 2010 at 3:27 am
nothing is impossible…
16.
New Inventions
November 20th, 2010 at 6:40 am
I totally agree with you that the foreign language will certainly benefit our economy.I can speak English very fluently.Thanks…
17.
برامج
November 26th, 2010 at 2:29 am
Inhumanity article intéressant
18.
صور انمى
November 26th, 2010 at 3:40 am
thème de Nice et a continué à écrire
19.
شات كتابي
November 29th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Le sujet de plus de merveilleux que vous le méritez
20.
unoccupied property insurance
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:35 am
I totally agree with you. The foreign language will certainly benefit our economy.I can speak the English very fluently.And I’m about to learn Japanese…
21.
hotels in looe
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:38 am
I totally agree with you. The foreign language will certainly benefit our economy. I just speak chinese and English pretty well.
22.
Discount LV Handbags
February 17th, 2011 at 9:46 am
you are right,i am with you
23.
driving instructors in Milton Keynes
February 28th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Its really a good feeling to know about the values of this languages. Well its just like a push to the life and our career too as we cal explore ourself more. I will go for a French language.
24.
zara
March 25th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
http://www.vibramfivefingershoes2011.com/
25.
ملتقى صبايا العرب
March 26th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Great! I’m headed for success! Oh wait, you don’t mention Hebrew as one of the languages to learn.صبايا العرب
26.
haiying
April 12th, 2011 at 2:42 am
http://www.mylouisvuittonoutlet-sale.com/
27.
Jasmine
April 24th, 2011 at 5:14 am
[...] Trevligt! Som en frisk fläkt som lyfte upp mig denna morgon. [...]
28.
xx
April 27th, 2011 at 1:31 am
http://www.coachpursestores.com/
29.
zara
May 14th, 2011 at 2:45 am
http://www.burberrybags-store.com/
30.
دردشة عراقية
June 20th, 2011 at 12:19 am
wow cant know this b4
31.
burberry outlet
July 9th, 2011 at 7:43 am
thank you for sharing,this information is useful to me.good quality
32.
jocu-RI cu Masini
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
Haha, how do you come up with this stories, they are very funny, keep it up!
33.
شات
August 2nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
jfps http://www.q8motor.com/
34.
دردشة مصرية
September 14th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
fklvf fcc
35.
دردشة مصرية
September 14th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
mcryh mcryh
36.
مدونة
October 17th, 2011 at 10:54 am
blessing upon blessing.
Sink your generosity مدونة deep into our lives
37.
ماليزيا
October 25th, 2011 at 9:50 am
thank you for sharing,this information is useful to me.good quality
38.
My First Skool
November 27th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
One great way to learn chinese is through enrichment classes since they were young, via speech and drama.
39.
رسائل
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am
I have a presentation that I am presently working on ,,, and I have been looking for you
ماسنجر بلاك بيري
40.
G.Chung
December 26th, 2011 at 8:14 am
Hi,
There are many types of online courses which provide the online learn the foreign languages and after learn these foreign languages you must be a good guide for tourist places in India and other countries also.
The importance of distance learning courses is best option for us because it never disturbed regular life and good option for us.
41.
دردشة عراق الرومانسية
January 6th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
دردشة عراقية كتابية ||
42.
replica jewelry
January 25th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Nice hosting! It’s my first time to read like this article.jyrfg
43.
شات
January 27th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
thanx this topic very very good
i will spend my time in this site
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>Trackbacks & Pingbacks
[...] Money: The Financial Benefits of Learning A Foreign Language. It is oft spoken, “To speak another language is to gain a soul.” Nick says, “To [...]
Pingback by Cash Money Life - Personal Finance with a Salute to the Military » Weekly Roundup - Popcorn Festival Edition — September 8, 2007 @ 9:21 am