Knowing more than one language will strengthen your resume and allow you to better serve your organization's clients. Take all the opportunities you can to learn more.
Have you ever heard one of the most common jokes in the world?
"What do you call a person who speaks two languages?"
"Bilingual."
"And one who speaks three languages?"
"Trilingual."
"And what do you call a person who speaks one language?"
"American!"
That reality is slowly… or depending on where you are and who you work with… rapidly… changing. If you had the fortune of growing up in a bi (or multi) cultural, bilingual family, you have a step up. But if more and more of your organization’s clients are speaking Spanish, Hmong, or another language, while you are rusty, it might just be time for a change.
Being multilingual makes you more valuable to employers, improves creativity and critical thinking, boosts your voc and writing ability in English, and increases your appreciation of other cultures as well as your own. Want to become a pro at languages?
- Make and take opportunities to practice
- Let others know when you don't understand
- Be open-minded toward native speakers and their cultures
- Don’t worry about making mistakes, just talk!
The suggestions above might feel like a challenge, but they are well worth the effort. As author Arthur H. Charles, Jr. says, "A language is foreign to you because you do not use it every day," By putting yourself out there and practicing your second (or third…) language with native-speaking clients, you will end up benefiting both yourself and them in the long-run. (When accuracy truly counts, however, be sure to use a trusted interpreter).
