Why Study A Language?

Why Study a Language?

A well-rounded education: A university education begins with the premise that one's world and one's self are at the core of the pursuit of knowledge. It leads to viewing the world from more than one perspective and learning something about its social, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions.

The world is full of languages: Think about how many newspapers and books you could read, movies and TV programs you could understand, web sites you could visit, people and places you could really get to know with another language!

The competitive edge: Did you know that studying a second language can improve your skills and grades in math and English and can improve entrance exam scores -SATs, ACTS, GREs, MCATs and LSATs? Research has shown that math and verbal SAT scores climb higher with each additional year of foreign language study. It means that the longer you study a foreign language, the stronger your skills the easier it is to succeed in school.

Studying a foreign language can improve your analytical and interpretive capacities as well. And three years of language study on your record will catch the eye of anyone reading your job or college application. In addition, if you've already learned a language other than English at home, expanding your knowledge of its vocabulary, grammar, culture and literature will also improve your chances for success in school and in your career.

The job advantage in a global economy: More and more businesses work closely with companies in other countries. They need many different kinds of workers who can communicate in different languages and understand other cultures. No matter what career YOU choose, if you've learned a second language,you'll have a real advantage. A technician who knows Russian or German, the head of a company who knows Japanese or Spanish, or a salesperson who knows French or Chinese can work successfully with many more people and in many more places than someone who knows only one language. There are lots of Americans who speak languages other than English. If you've ever thought of being a nurse, a doctor, a police officer, a judge, an architect,a businessperson, a singer, a plumber, or a Web master, you will multiply your chances for success if you speak more than one language. Professionals who know other languages are called on to travel and exchange information with people in other countries throughout their careers.

Knowing more than one language enhances opportunities in government, business, medicine and health care, law enforcement, teaching, technology, the military, communications, industry, social service, and marketing. An employer will see you as a bridge to new clients or customers if you know a second language.

Our program is affiliated with the CUNY Council on Foreign Language Study.