This informal CPD article Use Your Time at Home to Learn a New Language was provided by Alison, Free Online Learning Provider.
Learn a New Language
Face it, the last year has been tough. The idea of foreign travel has never seemed less likely, while at the same time we've never needed, or deserved, a holiday more. Many of us have spent the last twelve months dreaming of our top ten holiday destinations and making promises that, once air travel opens up again, we're leaving and never coming back!
While things are picking up here in the UK, slower vaccination role outs across Europe and further afield mean that holidays abroad are probably still unlikely this summer. However, there's a silver lining for those looking to put this unprecedented time at home to good use, while at the same time whetting their appetite for future holidays. There's never been a better time, or motivation, to learn a foreign language!
Capitalise on your time at home
While you may not be going abroad any time soon, you can bring a slice of your favourite country home by starting to learn a new language. With much of the economy yet to reopen, there are endless leisure hours that need filling and learning a new language can be a highly enjoyable way to fill them. One of the best ways to pick up a language is by immersing yourself in its culture and that's never been easier. You don't even need to leave the house. Online streaming sites offer huge ranges of foreign films and television series, while music streaming services offer endless songs and podcasts to help you get your ear in. Learning a new language might just be the most enjoyable form of self-improvement out there!
So much more than communication
Learning a foreign language is so much more than just gaining a new medium in which to communicate with others. A language is the repository of a people's history and culture, and by learning a language you can gain an unparalleled insight into a nation's soul. You'll be broadening your horizons culturally and historically, not just linguistically as whole new realms of knowledge will become available to you in your new tongue.
It's never been easier
Even without bingeing on foreign films and boxsets, it's never been easier to pick up a new language. The tools that modern technology has put at our disposal mean that we've never been better equipped to learn interactively. There are a wide variety of language apps that are great for on-the-go and daily learning. Apps are a great way to make sure you do a little each day, which is vital when it comes to language acquisition.
Another useful tool are online reciprocal learning websites, which allow you to trade your fluency in English for help in your language of choice. These websites facilitate conversations with people who can teach you their language and who want to learn yours. This isn't just a fantastic way to learn but a great way to make new friends.
A unique and satisfying learning process
Learning a new language is unlike any other learning experience. You're approaching a boundless subject, which can be quite daunting, but you're also undertaking to upskill in one of the most fundamentally human characteristics: communicating with others. It can be a real test but incredibly rewarding.
Language acquisition can be one of the most gratifying learning processes as you go from being unable to communicate with someone - one of life's most frustrating experiences - to being able to make yourself understood in a completely new way. On top of this unique learning experience, the end result is even more satisfying, as there's little as rewarding as being able to converse with someone in their native language.
A whole new world of possibilities
While your initial reasons for learning a new language might be strictly for an improved leisure experience on holidays, the ability to speak a second (or third!) language is a huge asset in almost every career path and workplace. In our globalised world of multinational companies and transcontinental supply chains, being able to speak to someone in their native language can be the difference between a problem being resolved quickly or being ahead of the competition. A second language on your CV will see your stock among potential employers rise, while also opening up the possibilities of working abroad.
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