Written by Vaania Achuthan, BSc Politics and International Relations
Start learning a language now so you can be ready for an incredible future. Let me set aside your initial fears. Learning a new language isn’t as scary or difficult as you think. Put away those torturous memories of high school French class; language learning has happily come a long way since then!
My top three reasons to learn a new language (you can find more!) –
New career options
Most of us who will graduate in a year, would be looking at career options. And for that, learning a second language with fluency would be critical. As the world becomes more globalised, companies look to extend their businesses overseas, deal with international customers, a local sales force and be in tune with all the local laws and customs. Having someone speak the native tongue, is often the most important empathetic gesture, a company can show. So, if the choice was down to you (the closet language whiz that you are) and someone with no second language up their sleeve, who do you think would be hired? Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City gaffer, speaks 5 languages. And is arguably the best football manager in the world today – see the connection? Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool, speaks German, English and French. A pitch to my fellow students of PIR – how would International Relations be with or without the knowledge of an International Language?
Change the way we travel
Enjoy a bargaining session with an antique dealer in the bazaars of Marrakesh! Suddenly that colourful rug looks better! We know what a beach holiday or a ski holiday is all about, right? But here’s a new one – a Language Holiday – three to four weeks of preparation and then off, to an entirely new country to practice your recent language skills. A whole new way to experience people and their culture and a definite confidence booster.
Make new friends
Bonding with someone in their own language could perhaps lead to long lasting and tighter friendships. Having new friends and the joy of meeting new people is one of the simple pleasures of life. Little wonder that my new French friends at UCL, have been the influence in my learning French.
Okay, if you are hopefully convinced that adding to your language repertoire is a good thing, are obvious questions – where and how.
At UCL, you are spoilt for choice. You can take a language course as credit for your Undergraduate or Graduate Degree. Courses in 9 languages, English for Academic Purposes and British Sign Language are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE)
If you can spare up to two hours a week for 10 consecutive weeks, then the Evening Classes are what you could enrol for. Class sizes are small; courses are available from beginner to advanced levels, ensuring reading, writing, listening and speaking fluency.
Staying back in London in summer could be beneficial if you decide on a Summer Intensive Modern Foreign Language Course – check out the details in the link. It is intensive - 35 hours over 10 days!
You could learn East European Languages at UCL Classes are entirely online with highly specialized teachers.
And to stay in touch there are the ubiquitous ‘apps’. A few of these include Babbel, Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, Memrise and TripLingo. Apps are a great way to learn a language at home; the free versions are a pretty safe bet for learning European languages to a decent level.
And as students, we know what a shoe string budget is! Another way of bonding is to teach one another new language skills! There are apps for that too – try Bilingua or HelloTalk. Signing off!