Why you should learn a second and third language
By Alisa
@AlisaTR (936)
Trinidad And Tobago
May 19, 2018 10:47pm CST
I know some Spanish. I don't think anyone could live in and truly be a part of a South Florida community without being able to converse with the Latin American community. I can hold my own. I'm not the best, my command of the language is not advanced... but we can understand each other for basic things.
Lately, I've been thinking about consciously improving my conversational and written skills in Spanish. The world is shrinking and I think that it's important if not imperative to learn a second, and maybe third language- if one wants to survive and remain marketable in the world of work.
Do you think learning a second language is important? And say in the next ten years which languages do you think will be most predominant in the world of business?
16 people like this
22 responses
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
20 May 18
Well, since I know two languages, learning another one doesnt hurt. Mandarin would be the most predominant in the world of business.
5 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73890)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 May 18
When I was growing up in NYC my parents were Latvian immigrants and Latvian was the language we spoke at home. I learned English when I went to kindergarten and spoke it better in the first grade than any of my schoolmates who had English as a first language. I took French in high school and later on at university learned some German. I have picked up a few other languages here and there but I am fluent in both Latvian and English. I think Spanish could be a good language to learn.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73890)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May 18
@AlisaTR yes, I do. Because learning languages is not easy and even if we do not learn a language fluently we still are left with the feeling that we should strive to learn all that we can.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
20 May 18
It is always better to learn other languages which we are likely to use on day to day basis! That makes the life easier! In India we have many languages though English is one of the official language! So I tried to learn at least 5 to 6 languages apart from English and I find it convenient for me to interact with yhe people effectively! Thanks!
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
20 May 18
@AlisaTR , Though there are 17 official languages exist in India, including the dialects there are about 800 languages exists which people speak!
I have already posted a discussion about it which you can go through! Thanks!
Link:
India is an Asian Country with highest population only next to China. It is having many interesting things worth discussing. This country is having more than...
1 person likes this
@marguicha (216097)
• Chile
20 May 18
English is not my native tongue. I think that being able to read a book that is not translated is very good.
2 people like this
@marguicha (216097)
• Chile
20 May 18
@AlisaTR I think that my English is fairly good. The only thing I will not attempt to read is poetry.
1 person likes this
@suni51 (3429)
• India
20 May 18
In my case it would be like "Why should I learn 8th or 9th language?. Yes I can speak 7 languages fluently and I am planning to learn couple of more time permitting. I am a marketing professional constantly meeting people from different language groups so conversing in their own language helps me achieve my targets easily.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
21 May 18
what languages do you speak? do you take lessons?
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
21 May 18
@suni51 you have an ear for languages then. how long does it take you to learn - one month?
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
20 May 18
As far as I know, there are more and more people learning Chinese now. 
2 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
20 May 18
@AlisaTR Compared with English, Chinese is really a little difficult. But as long as you work hard, you can learn well.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
20 May 18
yes, I know now how to speak English, and also conversational Thai and some words in Lithuania. I regret studying Spanish when it was offered to College. I hope I studied. tsk!
very nice, when I hear Spanish, I feel like I want to fall in love. It's so romantic-sounding. I will study that too in the future.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
20 May 18
@AlisaTR oh yeah why not. all languages are exciting to learn. among all Asian languages it is an advantage to learn Chinese and Japanese.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
20 May 18
@AlisaTR I never much liked French. I liked German much better. It's more like English in its sounds. I couldn't even hear the sounds in Russian. I'd go nuts trying to learn Cantonese and other dialects that depend on pitch to understand words. Japanese might be easier. But for now I think it would be smarter to learn some Spanish.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36545)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 May 18
Yes it is important to learn a second language. In the next 10 years I would say the prominent languages will be English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic.
2 people like this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
24 May 18
Yo me tambien. Yo hablo un poco espanol. I don't think it is necessarily important to learn a second or third language. But I do think it is fun to learn. I have to admit that at times speaking some Spanish is indeed useful. Our office branch also runs the Arizona office, and so we field the calls into our office from that branch which runs four surrounding states including California, and some of those customers speak mostly Spanish. Incidentally, our warehouse guy out there speaks Spanish, so if I am having trouble—I am the only one in our office who speaks any Spanish—I can direct them to Steven out there since he is much more fluent that I am.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85733)
• Bangalore, India
21 May 18
Learning a new language is always good. It opens the possibility to know more cultures and traditions across the world. If you know reading and writing too, then you can read a lots of literature in different languages. I feel that while translating a book into a different language, some of the real essence is lost.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85733)
• Bangalore, India
21 May 18
@AlisaTR I can read in few languages and I have found this with the translated books
1 person likes this
@ThinkGratitude (263)
• United States
20 May 18
Yes, learning a second or third language could be quite beneficial. I think Spanish would be the language to learn since we border Mexico and I think it's the second highest language spoken in the USA next to English.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
21 May 18
I'm trying to learn Spanish but no bueno so far.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (4171)
• Philippines
20 May 18
I think so, especially when you are in a business. But anyway I do believe that as long as we live, we should make the best of our lives, and studying other languages and learning about others culture (but not to copy it especially if we know it isn't good), exploring different places is just one of the best thing that God has given for us to really experience and e a much better person... Reminder do not copy the wrong culture, but always keep what God put in our hearts on the very first time he sent us on earth. God bless. Just enjoy... don't hesitate... just know your limitation. God bless. I do feel excited for you.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
20 May 18
if i will work or live in another country, i would.
1 person likes this
@AlisaTR (936)
• Trinidad And Tobago
20 May 18
Would that be your only reason @hereandthere? Don't you think that with tightening markets and competition that professionals might deem it an asset to be able to speak other languages right at home in the next ten years or so?
@Letranknight2015 (51539)
• Philippines
20 May 18
I don't even know my native language besides tagalog and also my second language english. Wish I could know the other asian languages.
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
20 May 18
Yes for me it's very important to learn another languages. I actually love learn different languages..
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
20 May 18
@AlisaTR I can speak English and Urdu language..
2 people like this
