Writing : Importance of Learning Foreign Languages in College

[Final draft - edited]

There are many things that we should do in college, but I think that learning a new language should be on the top of the things-to-do list. Since primary school, learning foreign languages has been regarded as an important thing since primary school. However, learning languages in college can be a life changing experience that gets more and more important as time goes by.

First of all, you should learn a new language because languages are like tools that help us contact with the world. It is possible to live with one tool, but you will get more knowledge and opportunities if you have more tools than others. In an age of globalization and an information-oriented society, you can strengthen your competitiveness by learning languages. In fact, many companies and universities offer more opportunities for jobs or scholarships to those who speak more than three languages than those who can only speak one.

Another reason that learning a new language is important is that you can improve the way you interact with other people. These days, society needs active and spirited people who can mix with other people well and express their opinions clearly. When you study academic subjects like math, you only need books and pens. However, you are required to speak out when learning a language. If your ability is not enough to express your thoughts, you will have to learn how to use your body language, including a variety of facial expressions. Eventually, you will talk and communicate with others more actively.

Finally, learning a language deepens your understanding of others. You need more than books when you want to speak a foreign language fluently. So, you will naturally encounter the life of those who speak the language through various media such as music, movies and so on. These media include not only the language itself but also the history and culture of the people who speak the language. For instance, if you watch the movie 'Farewell My Concubine' to study Chinese, you will get to know the history of modern China mixed in the main story. Meeting with different cultures and lifestyle helps you learn and understand various ways of living.
After graduation, it is hard to take time for learning something different, and it's more difficult when you get a job. Therefore, it's very important to learn a new language in college that can be a strong asset, by improving attitudes, and helping your understanding of others. If you are just wandering the campus worried about your future, why don’t you try learning a new language?