Why do people study foreign languages?

Answer 1

There are many reasons they might do this.

The first and most obvious one is communication: you might want (or need) to communicate with someone who only speaks a foreign language. For example, on holiday to Spain, you might come across some shop owners or restaurant owners that only speak Spanish. When you cannot speak to them or understand them, it can be a pain. You may also, for whatever reason, move to a country with a foreign language. If you live in a foreign country, learning the language is crucial to your work, social life, and just about anything outside of the home.

The next reason may be to better understand the person's own language. For example, learning almost any modern European language - you will see a lot of similarities and differences between English and these languages, in the words, their spellings and pronunciations, and the grammar. This probably only applies to scholars studying languages though.

Another reason is to be polite. If, for example, a Japanese family came over to the UK for their holiday and went to a hotel and spoke to the receptionist in Japanese, the hotel wouldn't have a clue what they were on about, and they should not have to learn Japanese just because one or two customers can't be bothered learning English. Wouldn't you think it was a bit rude if someone came up to you spitting out foreign words you didn't understand? In the same way, if only to be polite, we should learn at least some of the language of the country we are visiting if we go on holiday to a foreign country.

Another reason is for fun. Perhaps to you it seems boring (a lot of people I know couldn't stand doing French in high school). However, it gives people a little challenge. Something to do. When you learn how to communicate fluently in a foreign language, it is quite a rewarding experience to use this language to the people who speak it and actually be understood.

Some jobs require foreign languages to be learned by the workers. For example, business men and women may need to go to other countries to talk business with people from those countries. Pilots who do not speak English as a first language must learn enough English to be able to communicate with air traffic control and others in the cockpit because English is the standard language used in aviation. People working in foreign call centres often have to learn basic English to be able to speak to people in the UK and the US.

As you can see, there are plenty reasons why people study foreign languages, and there are more than I have listed. Have a nice day! Goodbye! Au revoir! Auf Wiedersehen! Arrivederci! ¡Adiós! Ok, you get the point.

Answer 2

It's no longer similar to that within the US. Many Western, Anglo international locations do not location adequate emphasis at the significance of multilingualism. Even right here in Australia, a nation which most of the time proudly announces itself as 'multicultural', the assets or even the curiosity don't fit the rhetoric, and the status of LOTE (Languages Other Than English) sits good at the back of that of different topics which can be noticeable as being extra vocational, and for that reason giving one a better threat of discovering employment. Part of it additionally has to do with the linguistic geography of the US. The handiest different languages which can be used to a fairly prime measure in or close the US are French and Spanish, while the linguistic density in Europe is way, so much larger. So the angle of the federal government performs a enormous facet, however there are lots of elements which ought to be regarded, as it isn't a functional query with an convenient determination.

Answer 3

In addition to all of the reasons listed above, people also learn a foreign language to better understand the thought process or philosophy of a different culture.

The best way to get into the mind of an author is to read his/her work in the original language.

Many concepts that are communicated in one word in one language may need several paragraphs in a different language to communicate the general (not EXACT) meaning.

This is especially true when it comes to matters of philosophy and religion.
.

Answer 4

Well, a lot of people learn it for the money. A person who is multilingual has a lot more business opportunities than a person who can only speak English. It's also nice to expand your knowledge. Like right now, I'm learning Swedish. It can also help you talk to a foreign friend who is not good in English; it's much more comforting for people to talk to you in the language you know best.

Answer 5

You cannot truly understand a culture and a people unless you are fluent in their language and have vast experience living there.

Answer 6

To visit other countries and be able to communicate.

To learn vocubulary and the evolution of our own language.

Answer 7

Three important reasons :
1- helps to find work .
2- helps to travel .
3- helps to talk with people like joanna .

Answer 8

because it makes communication way more easy if you talk the other personn language and trhey understand you

Answer 9

4 fun

Answer 10

to try to meet some foreign ppl, to know more stuff about other countries. so i don't see why not.