As a BBC, language learning was not just a way to have fun, but a way to connect to my heritage and identity. If you are also a heritage learner, the following points don’t just offer a way to find enjoyment but also a way to explore who you are and your heritage or identity.
Language learning? Why should I pick up this hobby? What is in it for me? Here are the top 13 reasons why you should start studying a modern foreign language today! (In no particular order):
Reasons related to Heritage / BBC / Faith:
- Family Communication: If you have family members who speak this language, you will be able to speak and communicate with them in a way that nothing else really can
- Cultural access: You will be able to explore and visit places in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, etc, with ease, knowing the language well. You will also be able to work and study there if you so wish. Language learning really opens new doors.
- A new layer to your faith: You will be able to worship God and study the Bible / pray in a new language, giving a new depth and freshness to your relationship with God.
Reasons related to enjoyment:
- For enjoyment: It’s fun! There’s nothing like learning a language and then discovering the fact that you can understand words in TV shows and movies! The actual process of learning a language itself can be rewarding and interesting, and can lead to many benefits down the line after learning the language.
- Opens cultural pathways: It opens doors to new cultures. Different cultures through the lens of language can be a powerful way to connect to others. Culture and language are inextricably linked. You often cannot have one without the other, so it becomes important to learn the language the culture is associated with to understand the culture better. This means, as a possible heritage language learner, you will be able to access and see the culture in other countries, such as China, that we may have missed previously.
- Joy in authentic content: Being able to access authentic content in the language. This means foreign TV shows and films with subtitles become possible. This also means you will have wider access to content within the new culture and language you are learning.
Reasons related to connection:
- Making global friends: Communicating with others using their language can be a very powerful experience. Also, did you know that only 5% of people have English as their native language? When you speak another language, more opportunities for potential friends arise.
- Being a better communicator: Learning another language can help with your communication and soft skills. Doing things in another language, such as ordering coffee, giving a presentation or other things, means that you will have more opportunities to have communication experience outside your comfort zone and so improve your communication skills.
Reasons related to self-improvement:
- Mother tongue: self-awareness: It helps you improve your native language. Yes, all those new words and grammar structures help you to remember different aspects of your native language that maybe weren’t thought of before.
- Personal growth: You learn a lot of life lessons through language learning, which you can apply to other areas of your life.
- It’s good for your memory: Studies show that learning languages can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. It’s like exercise but for your brain; it’s a great way to make learning part of your everyday routine and one of the easiest ways to keep learning for life.
- Boosting your confidence: As a language learner, you will make more mistakes than you’d ever think, but as a result, you have a stronger level of confidence.
- Advancing your career: Some jobs require multilingualism, and the job opportunities include translators and interpreters.
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