By Ingle International
Learning Français Can Open Up Doors to Other Languages… and the world!
Remember when you were a kid and you’d fight your parents when it came to doing your French homework? Whether you were enrolled in French immersion or took one core class per year, unless you were a lover of languages from a young age, learning French probably felt like a chore. But now—as you prepare for graduation and begin to apply for jobs—you may finally understand why you shouldn’t have been fighting Mom all those years.
Depending on where you live in Canada, proficiency in French can mean that you’ll get the job over your English-only competition.
Interested in government jobs? For the most part, bilingualism is a must. We live in a nation with two official languages—and that’s pretty cool. So once you’re in the working world, you need to communicate with your French-language clients, represent your French-language market, or take business trips where you may be expected to—surprise, surprise—speak French!
Hold on. Not all jobs require this much interaction with French-speaking communities.
In fact, some won’t require French language skills at all. Still, learning another language as a kid means it’s that much easier to pick up a third language as an adult. Wondering why you’d want to? Travelling, for starters. And how about teaching ESL abroad, doing a cross-cultural exchange, volunteering in countries in need, falling in love with a foreigner? The list goes on…
So, forget your not-so-great marks as a youngster! Think about how languages can open up doors to job opportunities, overseas internships, travel, love, and the world! It never hurts to take a language class as an elective in university. Or, you could even enroll in a language school independent of your post-secondary institution. International friends, smaller class sizes, and marks that don’t count towards your final grade are just a few of the perks!
And if you’re still not convinced that learning a language is for you, think about the long-term effects. Yes, it’s hard to picture life beyond school. (You do spend close to 20 years of your life as a student!). But I guarantee that just a few short years after graduation, you’ll realize how quickly time passes. Learning another language improves your communication skills, helps with memory retention, and may even delay Alzheimer’s! (You don’t want to experience what the lovebirds in The Notebook did, now do you?)
And the best part?
Learning a new language means meeting new friends, and potentially even finding romance! And what could be more romantic than sharing with your true love a language no one else understands? Not a whole lot, I assure you. And believe me, I speak from keiken*—err, I mean experience!
*Japanese word for “experience”
Want to learn a language?
Find language courses in Canada’s three largest cities:
Please note that Ingle International does not endorse any of the language programs listed in this article. They are here as resources to help you get started! Always do your research to find out if the program you are considering is reputable—especially before joining a study abroad program.
This article, written by Kathleen O’Hagan, is provided by Ingle International, specializing in travel insurance since 1946. Ingle International has partnered with Studentawards to provide students with the best travel health solutions for their overseas adventures. For more information, visit our partner site at http://inglestudents.com/studentawards/.