A lot of us would love to study languages for many and different reasons. It is inevitable that we should have reasons when studying languages – these reasons give meaning to why we take up language learning and they help guide us in achieving our goal of learning new languages.

Each and every one of us may have varying reasons but the following are the most common reasons why people study languages:

• Culture. Studying a foreign language exposes learners to different cultures and it gives them the opportunity to learn more about those cultures and develop appreciation for them.

• Academic skills. Studying foreign languages can have a direct effect on the development of cognitive processes and language helps expand a learner’s range of thinking.

• Education. Many people study languages in order to become educated in languages. Languages can also be used to further their academic ambitions.

• Business. Studying languages is useful for business especially when trading with clients and partners from different countries. Being able to communicate in another language is a plus since it bridges gaps and allows better trading.

• Creativity. Speaking more than one language enhances a language learner’s creativity and it allows multiple language speakers to become more creative in their endeavors.

• Aesthetics. Some languages are beautiful and language learning has an artistic and aesthetic value.

• Diversity. Studying more languages allows language learners to learn more about languages and cultures and promote these to other people and help encourage diversity.

• Accessibility. People who study foreign languages have the opportunity to access various information available only in the language they are studying. It also gives them the chance to communicate with more people.

• Career. There are a lot of career opportunities for people who can communicate in more than one language. Translators and interpreters can work in local agencies or government offices or they can go abroad and work where they and their language skills are needed.

• Critical thinking. Studying foreign languages exposes language learners to different cultures thus they become more aware of other traditions and practices. It also allows them to think critically in the sense that they are open to new ideas and have developed different viewpoints.

There are more reasons to study languages and they may differ according to each language learner. If you were to study languages, what are your reasons?