“ I can talk English, I can walk English, I can Laugh English’’ , this popular dialogue spoken by Amitabh Bachhan in a Bollywood movie, apart from standing out in its comic timing also renders a thought provoking message.The dialogue was spoken by the protagonist while he came to the city for an interview and was faced by the employer’s question about whether or not he could speak English or knew translation into English.
You see, we refer to any second language as foreign, because by definition it means unknown and overseas. Thus, to have knowledge in any foreign language or possessing the ability to write and translate in it can be an added advantage to any person’s resume.
Advantages of knowing external languages
- Cognitive Impact
- Improves Decision Making: According to an article published in The Guardian, the knowledge of Foreign Languages improves decision making. Knowledge of a second language can make a person more rational, open minded and prepare him to be equipped to deal with uncertainties. Apart from altering the quality of memories, switching between languages can also influence people’s financial decision making and appraisal of moral dilemmas. This event is known as “foreign language effect’’.
- Psychological Metamorphoses: When a writer named Nabokov wrote his autobiography Speak Memory in 1951, it was in English. Later he had to translate it to Russian which also happened to be his mother tongue. Russian brought back memories from his childhood, which he added in the final edition of his autobiography in 1966. Psychologists have increasingly shown interest in the psychological metamorphosis like using a less used language after a long time, to bring back memories from a certain period of one’s life where he used to be speaking that particular language.
- Career Advancements
Multilingualism boosts career opportunities by exposing to international markets and finding opportunities related to communication in diverse work environments. From linguists to translators whether it be in the field of national security; people who assist government officials in international treaties for translation and interpretation, scholars, or experts who join foreign Language Translation Services, have the advantage of following a unique and distinct career pathway.
- Cultural Appreciation
Learning a speech next to the mother tongue provides people thoughtful insights into different cultures. This helps in developing empathy, cultural sensitivity and global awareness about different communities across the globe.
Tips for learning any foreign language
- Acknowledging Fear
The fear of foreign language anxiety is known as Xenoglossophobia. Before delving into strategies about overcoming this agitation, it’s essential that we acknowledge it and understand its roots. Language anxiety stems from the fear of writing and translating in foreign languages. This terror is based on the shame of failure, embarrassment or the unknown. It creates pressure performance and can get very overwhelming leading to procrastination or language anxiety. - Forbearing Shortcomings
The first step in overcoming this fear is to accept imperfections and shortcomings understanding that committing mistakes is an inevitable part of a learning journey every mistake can be looked like an opportunity to learn and grow. So instead of striving for flawless translations from the outset, focusing on progress every day is important. - Baby Steps
Undertaking small steps and manageable tasks helps in building confidence gradually and systematically. Biting more than what you can chew will only lead to more errors and break your confidence. Be it translating short sentences, writing short paragraphs or translating simple dialogues breaking down your goals into small doable tasks will aid you in the process of mastering your language. - Start Thinking in Foreign Languages
This is an interesting thing. The Go-To speech for thoughts to form in our brain is generally our mother tongue or a language which we are most comfortable in. We break it, twist it, and shape it according to our convenience only because we are adapting it. When learning a new tongue, forming thought patterns or consciously thinking in that particular dialect will help you learn the language faster and gain command over it.
For example, if you are an Arabic speaker and want to gain expertise in English, you can practice to translate Arabic to English in small sentences and thoughts you generate in day-to-day life. - Master the Basics First
Remember when you were in kindergarten the first things you learnt about your languages were the Alphabets, the Phonetics, small words, sentences, poems, stories and so on. Without the foundational understanding of any language, one cannot speak or read fluently. So, mastering the basics is the first and the paramount step in your linguistic journey. - Practice
We all know that practise makes a man perfect. Consistent practise can help overcome the anxiety of writing and translating in any language. Setting aside a dedicated time every day to engage with the dialect will help you become familiar and comfortable with the same. - Stay Consistent
The thing about learning a different lingo is that you need to be constantly in touch with it. If you fail to break your consistency you might lose memory, grasp of your vocabulary. This can greatly affect your learning journey and break your confidence. - Utilize Resources
Living in the 21st century you are exposed to the advantage of a plethora of resources available for learning, be it online Courses, vernacular apps, dictionaries or language exchange platforms, all these tools are invaluable when it comes to polishing your skills. Making good use of these resources can benefit you. - Read and Communicate
When it comes to mastering any foreign dialect, reading books and making conversation in the same medium will help you practise what you have learnt. It will build vocabulary and draw your attention towards grammar, thus perfecting your linguistic skills.
For example, if you are an English speaker aiming to learn Korean you can get benefit from English to Korean translator apps/portals available. - Challenge Yourself
Who is a better accountant of your hard work and learning than you yourself?
Challenging yourself every day with more complex writing tasks and translation projects will help you push yourself beyond your learning boundaries and help you to shy away from touching difficult texts or topics rather view them as opportunities to expand your knowledge. - Feedback
Don’t shy away or feel embarrassed from seeking feedback from others be it tutors, friends, native speakers or fellow learners who are ahead of you. Constructive feedback can lead to providing valuable insights into your areas of improvement. - Cultivate Patience
As you sow so shall you reap, this powerful proverb teaches the value of patience when learning a different tongue and aiming to master its translation. It’s necessary that you keep time considerations in mind. Understanding that progress can be slow at times and every day might not be as exciting, staying committed to learning on a regular basis helps add daily efforts into synthesizing a beautiful journey, for which you will pat yourself.
Conclusion
By cultivating practice and gaining strength from practice and consistency can help you gain triumph over the fear of reading and writing in a foreign tongue.
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