Keep mentally fit with language
Brits are realising the benefits of learning other languages
A recent study by online language teaching company babble (www.babble.com), discovered the main reasons people want to learn another language.
Respondents from six countries including the UK gave such reasons as “wanting to keep mentally fit”, “learning out of pure interest” and “to communicate better when travelling”.
Remarkably, 57% of those questioned in the UK felt that they wanted to communicate better when abroad. Perhaps the continental Europeans, who are largely at home with two or three languages under their belt, have shamed us Brits sufficiently about our linguistic inability when we take trips over the channel.
In addition to the ability to communicate, learning another language gives vital insight into the culture and mind-set of others. Cognitive research suggests that language profoundly influences the way people see the world. Meeting people with an idea of how their world view has been created is being recognised as an indication of cultural intelligence. Developing this "intelligence quotient" will certainly help co-operation between the peoples of the world as we face the challenges of the future.
In the meantime, learning and using pleasantries such as “good morning”, “please” and “thank you” are a great way to start - a quick poll among the Vandu office team revealed 10 foreign languages between us - plus Olivia's BSL!
