Benefits of Learning a Language in the Business World

        Earlier in the week, I happened across someone who quite decidedly believed that learning another language holds no value in the business world - as it so happens, this person stated this quite condescendingly. In all honesty, I was astonished at this belief.

       As an Economics major, it's quite feasible to imagine that yes, I have considered how learning another language might benefit me in the business world. While the largest benefits of learning a second language lie outside the business world, there are, of course, benefits still to be had.

        My first point is : Who likes to make more money? Presumably everyone, no? Well, should you wish to make more money, look no farther than learning a second language. On average, regardless of where you work, fluency in another language typically leads to a 2-4% increase in annual salary. These numbers can obviously be higher (those in the military typically make up to 10% more). Also, the less common the language, the more your talents will be in demand, and the higher the possibilities of a higher pay check. While 2-4% may not seem like much, someone making a mere $30,000 a year would, upon retirement and compounding, have made an extra $70,000. Not bad, to say the least.

       Also, learning a language inevitably leads to more job openings. My French teacher during my senior year of high school is a prime example of this. This man, unfortunately, could not find work at all that related to his Masters degree (musical history, I believe it was). Fortunately, he had become fluent in French as a random past time, and he was able to land a job as a French teacher. His talent became a simple talent to being an avenue to a career in teaching! If teaching isn't necessarily your style, that's fine - remember that two growing fields are interpreters and translators! Thus, should you ever find yourself in a bind, you know you have a marketable skill that can land you a job almost instantly.

       Finally, something to consider is the fact that the world is constantly shrinking. More and more businessmen are being sent overseas to do business. Unfortunately, only roughly 5% of the worlds population speaks English - not a very high percentage, to say the least. Thus, learning another language would be incredibly helpful whenever you're sent to Barcelona or Rome or Paris for a couple months on a business trip. It can go from a trip of being stuck inside a building for business, to being a time of your life as you adroitly explore the city and interacting with the denizens who reside there!

       Thus, to those who believe that learning another language has no practical use once you actually wish to find a job, recognize that....unfortunately, you're incorrect. Again, we find that learning another language, while difficult, has an insurmountable amount of benefits that can change your life forever.