Bonjour, Konnichiwa, Ahlan

BONJOUR,

KONNICHIWA, AHLAN

BY KATELYN LENZ

Communication is key. It is something that comes so naturally yet when you digest the thought of being incapable of understanding someone else just because of language barriers, it is astonishing. Conversations are flowing from various forms of languages all over the world and only knowing one for an entire lifetime holds you back from new connections. Acquiring a new language goes beyond being bilingual, it symbolizes the beauty within different cultures and places.

On our planet earth today, there are around 7,000 languages in existence — all to decode a message we as human beings are delivering to one another. Not being able to converse with another person just by not being able to understand a different language sounds odd when put into those terms — as if it was just that simple, right?

Being bilingual is simply a skill set — one that can come in handy for many reasons. Think about traveling outside of the country. Any region you choose to go to is going to be a challenge in conversation as every country’s main dialect differs. Even in the United States, English seems like it is the main language. However, that is far from the case anymore as different languages are welcomed and encouraged.

Another way learning a new language is helpful is for jobs. Being capable of communicating one style allows for more diversity and inclusiveness in the workforce. It is beneficial for companies in the sense of expanding their business beyond just their inner networks.

Jake Landmesser, a current Penn State student majoring in finance with a minor in Spanish said, “I used to work with a lot of people whose first language is Spanish. As I continue in the business world, I think minoring in another language would benefit my career by being able to translate and communicate in more than one language.”

Going hand in hand with those reasons, a great factor of becoming bilingual is meeting new people. Being able to conversate in multiple languages allows room for meeting people you never would have without inquiring about that new skill set. You could have a soulmate somewhere but never know because of a language barrier. These barriers hold back society from interacting with other parts of the world.

So, why not? Why doesn’t everyone learn a new language? Especially hearing all of the effects of the benefits. Well, it isn’t that simple. Learning, interpreting and then putting it to use to fully conversate takes time. Sitting down to learn a brand new language is time-consuming considering you are starting from not even knowing the word hello yet. It is like riding a bike for the first time — devoting all your time to learning something new.

Acquiring any new set of skills requires patience. Trying anything for the first time can be intimidating not knowing what will happen or if it is worth the time and effort it will require. With learning a new language, it is normal to feel these things.

Everything is hard at first, but if you keep up with it then that uncertainty disappears and everything starts to align. Becoming bilingual is a process and it is studied for that particular reason but do not let it stand in the way. Learning comes at your own pace — whether you master a new language in eight months or 12 years, you are successful anytime you are consistent and determined. Everyone’s journey is different so do not let that stop you from learning a new language. Remind yourself of the reason you started — anything is possible.