Teach English in Guozhuang Zhen - Rizhao Shi

In today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, proficiency in other languages is an important skill that allows one to communicate with other parts of the world in a more immediate and meaningful way. Language is part of anyone’s daily life, of any race in any region of the world. With that being said, the importance of communication is commonly overlooked or underestimated. I believe that this applies for English speakers. Being one of the most spoken language in the world, the thought that anyone can converse, even simple English, in any part of the world, is wrong, although this is changing, and non-English speaking countries are emphasizing on learning English as mandatory in their education system. There are many benefits of learning a foreign language. However, in this summative task, only a few will be mentioned. Firstly, the connection ability with others is one of the most rewarding experience in our lives. Take it for example, when travelling to a foreign country, the ability to communicate with others makes you feel local and safe. It provides you with a sense of security and acceptance too, opening up your world literally and figuratively. Building lifelong friendships with other people, being shaped by communities, one will be able to feel at ease by being able to connect with the locals. Secondly, acquiring a foreign language can enable you to advance your career. This will provide you a competitive edge that sets you apart from other colleagues. Especially if you work for a multinational organization, opportunities for you to rise up the corporate ladder will increase, as the demand for bilingual candidates are rising exponentially. Customers and clients can come from any and every part of the world. In the ever-expanding international market, being able to connect and serve foreign customers allow you to be ahead of other candidates who do not speak their language. Learning a foreign language can be an achievement for oneself too. People of different ages may decide to pick up another language due to many reasons. For example, a retiree may decide to learn a foreign language to pass time, and to exercise brain cells. Learning is always beneficial and can never end. By learning something new, this will help to improve memory, problem-solving skills and concentration etc. As one gets older, learning can also prevent mental aging illnesses and staying healthy. Younger learners, especially children, will find it troublesome to learn a language out of their country. They may find themselves forced to learn, and may not be motivated. However, in the long run, I can assure you that this will be advantageous and gainful. If you do love travelling, picking up a foreign language will be rewarding. Travelers who know more than one language are able to navigate themselves out of touristy areas and find themselves more attracted to local parts of the countries. Countries such as Japan, South Korea or other parts of Asia, where most locals do not have much knowledge in English, knowing how to communicate with them in their local language can make you feel localized. Some travelers prefer such experiences rather than following the crowd. You also do not need to follow a guided tour, which can be very strained and taxing. If you love being free and easy, knowing the local language can be a great advantage for you. According to an article (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/spore-should-spur-learning-of-foreign-languages-says-minister), bilingualism is touted as one of Singaporeans strength. However, Europeans are already picking up many other languages too. Learning a “third” language, can gives us access to popular universities, jobs and resulting in economic opportunities. This will foster good relations internationally. For myself, born and bred in multi-cultural Singapore, I had no choice but to learn a second language. Like most children, I didn’t pay attention during Mandarin classes. As a matter of fact, I hated that subject and failed the exams most of the time. I am proficient in English as my family and friends communicate in English all the time. I made the decision to study the Japanese language in 2018, and am currently living in Japan. When I first came here, I had classmates from China and Vietnam. My roommate is from China. I was fortunate that I had learnt Mandarin back then and am able to communicate with them. Some Vietnamese also were able to speak English, which proved that I am able to communicate with most of the other students. We cannot always rely on technologies to translate foreign language, as some expressions or words just do not have an exact translation.