Why learn a foreign language , what are the benefits?
I recently gave a talk to a group of 11 and 12th grade students on the importance
of learning a foreign language . Because we (in OZ) are the worlds most successful
' Multi Cultural Society', we found this a very important question to explore .
It got me thinking that perhaps here in SD we should discuss this in depth.
We have a great many students whose ages range from 14 years old upwards.
Also some older members like me who are in the 'golden years' ,
and perhaps like me are finding it hard going , we need to be given a reminder
of why we started ,and some of the benefits we will gain from carrying on .
Everyone knows how important it is to learn Spanish nowadays. Some are
learning for education, career, traveling and personal reasons. Even countries
like Great Britain are choosing Spanish over French.
¿Cuáles son los beneficios de aprender otro idioma?
What are the benefits of learning another language?
¿Cómo va a ser beneficioso para usted?
How beneficial will it be for you ?
Above all, have fun: For most people, learning is inherently enjoyable — watch any >preschooler to see how natural learning can be! Look for ways to make
language earning exciting,
whether it's following one of the above bits of advice or coming up
with a creative way of your own.
10 Answers
If you only know one language you are easily isolated from the world.
Si sólo sabe una lengua estas fácilmente aislado del mundo.
It will enable me to read a new chapter of my life in Mexico.
Lo que me permitirá leer un nuevo capítulo de mi vida en México.
En general de aprender una otra lengua es beneficioso , porque la gente políglota es más inteligente . Entra en conocimiento con una cultura ajena. Puede conseguir amigos en el mundo, no solo en su propia patria.
Para mi la lenguas son necesidades porque mi lengua materna es una lengua aislada, por eso los estudié en mi juventud, pero ahora en mi vejez estudio la lengua español como un gozo.
In general to learn another language is beneficial, because the polyglot people are more intelligent. They grab knowledge about a foreign culture.They can make friends in the world, not only in their own homeland.
For me the languages are necessary because my mother tongue is an isolated one that's why I studied them in my youth, but now in my old age I study Spanish as a pleasure .
1.Make new friends: The first and greatest benefit for me, personally, is that learning another language/other languages enables me to make new friends that I wouldn't have been able to make had I not taken the trouble to learn it /them! I currently take lessons in Spanish and French and would also like to improve my Brazilian Portuguese and learn some more Italian
I would love to be able to speak at least 5 languages fluently including of course English, which is my mother tongue, (native language) although I also count myself priveleged to have been born in a Spanish speaking country (Peru) although both my parents are English. It was a pity I had to leave there when I was only 18 months old. (
2 Improved brain funcionality. Secondly, ! believe there is evidence that shows that it does help you use other parts of your brain not normally used by monolingual people, as well as help improve multi-tasking funcionality. .I have also read somewhere that using the brain to learn languges may also help to ward off or or even prevent Alzheimers disease.
3.Ease of travelling I agree that knowing another language makes travelling to another country and taking part in activities much easier .You can understand the information signs, order food in a restuarant, buy bus or rail tickets, ask for information, ask for, and give, directions and I believe that having taken the trouble to learn their language makes them more open to going that extra mile to help you! 
4 Life- saving language skills: Knowing another (a second or third language or more) could save your life or even the life of another person! You could find yourself in a situation where the knowledge of another language may enable you to summon help quickly in the case of a genuine accident or emergency. You might be the only person who knows how to read and speak that language and someone else''s life may depend on it...including yours!
5 Reaching out to lonely people ...You might meet someone on holiday or at work who is socially isolated because they are surrounded by people who cannot speak their native language and they also be feeling very lonely and even depressed as a consequenec of this, so your willingness and ability to speak their native language..even at a basic level could even prevent them from taking their life! Just think of it, you could save their life and make a life long friend in the process! (I am sure that medical and/or psychological studies have shown that social isolation and feeling that nonone cares are two of the most significant social factors that contribute towards high suicide rates in cities, combined with financial and marital stress)
I may add more points later 
Learning other languages can open doors for you.The world is now a global village. Even if you do not travel much, you may come across certain things written in other languages and being able to translate them might help.
Aprender otros idiomas puede arbir puertas para usted.El mundo es ahora un aldea global. Incluso si usted no viaja mucho,todavia puedes encontrar algunas cosas escritas en otros idiomas y ser capaz de traducir los pueden ayudar.
Quand j’étais plus jeune j’ai vu un film par Felline “Clowns” et il y avait un hombre en una escena quien comenzó a hablar a otro hombre en italiano y de repente began speaking in French and then English y terminó en decir “Isn’t it?”
Et ça c’est porque quiero saber more than one ????
Now for those learning English:
When I was younger I saw a film by Felline "Clowns" and there was a men in a scene who started speaking in Italian to another man and suddenly began speaking in French and then English and ended saying "Isn't it?".
And that is why I want to know more than one language.
But that takes out all the fun (for me) of writing it the way I did.
No se olviden de lo más importante: conocer nuevas mujeres. Todo en broma.
Open new horizons: I live in an area of the USA with many Hispanics and Spanish-language signs & shops. I enjoy being able to read the billboards to my husband as we drive around town. I love going in to the Mexican grocery stores and finding things more easily.
Make new Friends: I have found that when I attempt to speak to Hispanics in their own language (even though most of them speak English as well), they soften and are more eager to speak to me and correct my Spanish. I've even made new friends this way.
Increased job possibilities: The main reason I wanted to learn Spanish was to increase the possibilities of taking a job in my area (one day). That's not a prerequisite, but a bonus for most jobs anyway.
Supongo que los razónes son diferentes para todo el mundo. Hay unos pueblos que tienen una lengua pequeña que no es bien conocia (por ejemplo, búlgaro, irlandés). Para esta gente aprender otras idiomas es necesario para vivir una vida en el mundo ancho. Para otros que tienen una lengua natal mas grande, como inglés o español, sería possible tener una feliz vida sin aprender otras idiomas, pero saber (¿ conocer ?) una idioma ajena hace que el mundo sea mas grande y peude darse unas oportunidades por trabajar, viajar y encontrar unos nuevos amigos. Pero hay otros razónes. Poder hablar una otra lengua ayuda para entender su propria lengua mejor. Para mi, cuándo hago mi trabajo como avocado, necesito utilzar las palabras exactas, y poder hablar francés ha podido ayudarme para decir lo que quiero decir (mismo si no hablo o escribo en francés para el trabajo). No es las palabras pero el método de pensar. Ultimamente, pensa no como un producto de su propria idioma pero como un ser humano capaz de pensar al exterior de los pareds de su palabras natales que pueden limitar las ideas. Lo siento si parece torpe pero todo dia hablo un poco mejor (espero 
)...
Learn correct pronunciation as soon as you can: Poor pronunciation habits can
be hard to break, and your efforts to make yourself understandable will be appreciated.
Bottom line. Now it's just about survival.
