Recession - The Best Time to Learn a Language

By Kenneth Leong

Recently I wrote that Britons are missing out on jobs at home and abroad because of their inability to speak languages other than English. Leonard Orban, the EU commissioner for multilingualism, says that small- to medium-sized companies in the UK are increasingly turning to foreign nationals to fill jobs that call for more than one language. In previous articles, I've explored the reasons why people need to learn a second language.

In recessionary times, it's even more important to keep improving and to consider learning a second language. Now is the time to be upskilling to future proof yourself. The ability to speak a second language puts your business or your job prospects one step ahead of the competition. You are also demonstrating to future employers that you have what it takes to stick to something. Employers realise that people who embark on language learning have some key characteristics that are highly valued in such times: commitment and dedication being some key ones.

The reasons people give for not learning a language include lack of time, the cost involved and the difficulty of the subject area. Part of what makes knowing a language a great skill to have is simply because it's not that easy for someone to acquire fluency. If it was, it would quickly lose it's value and won't be treasured as much.

Let's think about it this way. What if you manage to land a big business deal in Asia or Europe, or secure a great job, because you speak a second language? What if you get yourself out of a sticky situation in a foreign country because you speak the local language? What if you find the love of your life as a result of your language learning journey? I've certainly seen these things happen.

The economy may be going through recessionary times, but your personal life shouldn't. This is the time to be preparing yourself for the next boom.

Kenneth Leong is Director of Euroasia, New Zealand's premier provider of foreign language and cross cultural training programmes. Language courses offered include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Visit their site at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz