Jobs and career opportunities
It’s easier to get a job, in particular a fun and meaningful job, if you can add knowledge of several languages to your CV. Most employers are aware of the hard work it takes to learn a new language. This may strengthen their sense of respect for you, add new competences to the workplace as a whole and give greater variation in terms of your tasks as an employee. Demand is rising for interpreters and teachers of foreign languages thanks to processes of globalization and migration. And linguistic research is always pertinent, in areas such as Linguistics, Language Education, Literature, Cinema Studies, Psychology, Philosophy, Cultural History, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, etc.
Education and personal development
The more languages you know, the better your chances of finding someone you actually want to talk to. The more languages you understand, the larger your world becomes, as well as your opportunities to be an active part in it. Knowing several languages gives you more ways to think and take part of other people’s thoughts, from near and far, from the present time and from the past. Knowing more languages helps you develop new sides to your personality and to reach your full potential. Knowing multiple languages helps you appreciate more fully your inner and outer journeys, and it even protects you against dementia and general boredom. Languages are fun!
Quality of life and local networks
Knowledge of new languages strengthens the language or languages that you already know. Using your languages can improve your connection and sense of goodwill towards neighbours, colleagues, bureaucrats, cashiers and other fellow human beings, which in turn makes the society you live in safer and smarter. Not understanding each other’s languages, on the other hand, can cause discomfort or even anxiety, which can lead to tensions and a society difficult to live in. Knowing more than one language increases your ability to give and receive help, support and to build a strong sense of community.
Global sustainable development
Knowledge of languages is a prerequisite for sustainable development in all areas, whether it’s economics, ecology, equality, peace, etc. Proficiency in the world’s most widely spoken languages is needed in high-level negogiations, and those confident enough to converse in yet another language during coffee breaks are likely to make a real impact. Global development relies on local negotiations. Knowledge of languages broadens the range of contributions that you can make.
/Christine Ericsdotter Nordgren, August 2016. Translation: Albin Hillert