How Language Brings People Together

The title of this blog post may sound a bit odd, but I have recently been thinking about why language is so powerful and what distinguishes it apart from other aspects of our everyday lives. The response of which I kept on thinking was how language carries the power of bringing people together who would otherwise be strangers. There have been countless times in which I have found myself in a situation next to, or near an individual who I have never met. If there were a language barrier, the most amount interaction that I could have with a person would be by making gestures, or by trying to make out words in an unfamiliar tongue. If you decide to take on a lifelong journey around the world, you will be bound to end up in this kind of situation at some point, but one cannot deny the awkwardness, or perhaps frustration that one feels when that happens. 

Let's imagine the opposite scenario by using myself as an example. Before coming to Germany and deciding to study at an institute, I could barely formulate coherent thoughts when it came to being in emergency-type situations, such as asking for directions at the metro, otherwise known as the S-Bahn. As I slowly started learning more vocabulary, speaking more with my classmates, and gaining more confidence, I knew that I could get myself out of almost any kind of survival situation in German. Words such as "go straight and then make a left", or "we have not reached that stop yet" started to become familiar, and important everyday verbs, such as "to hop on", and "to hop off," became part of my everyday vocabulary. By saying "Excuse me, could you help me find [insert]. I am trying to get to [insert]," I found that every person that I asked was friendly and did not hesitate to answer my questions, even if I had to wait a few seconds for a response.

Now let's talk about more meaningful ways that language impacts not only my life, but also the lives of billions. I will use the example of studying at an institute, since the common goal of everyone who studies at one is to speak the same language. Although having classmates from around the world is appealing, it oftentimes means that you cannot speak the other person's native language. For example, I cannot speak any Asian language and there are many students who are not very comfortable speaking English. That ultimately means that the language that unites us, or our common language, is not English, but rather German. 

German is the language in which we joke with one another, in which we laugh, in which we complain, and in which we celebrate. We question in and respond in German and have a complete and authentic immersion experience in the classroom, which not only forces us to speak to each other in German, but that also makes us want to actively use it to continue improving our skills. We learn from each other and ask each other for clarifications, because, ultimately, we have all learned different material, vocabulary, and grammar throughout our lives. Since we are not perfect and still have a lot on which we could improve, we build a community within and outside of the classroom. I now trust them and want to continue strengthening those friendships in the future. 

Because of my study of many languages, I have connections and friends in virtually every continent in over 40 countries. The obvious advantages of this gift are that you can visit friends in different parts around the world and that you have the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures from individuals who belong to them. On the other hand, one of the most beautiful gifts that you can have is having compassion for others and having a willingness to understand individuals who are different than you, either by speaking to them in their native languages, or by speaking to them in a common language. No matter where my life takes me, I know that more than a handful of my international and different-minded friends will have my back and that I will be able to count on them. Better yet, I will always have language partners and friends who I know are willing to help me improve my language skills and to push me to ultimately reach my maximum potential. 

If you gain anything from this post, I hope that you realize the power that language has in making groups of people, and communities stronger and more open-minded. Language allows two strangers to eventually become best friends. Without barriers, you are unstoppable. 

Why Language Learning Pays Off

After a few months of reading some of my blog posts, or perhaps after many years of intensively studying a language, you may be asking yourself whether or not it is worth your time to continue doing so. That is a question that I oftentimes get asked, especially because many of my friends think that it could get confusing switching from one language to the next. I hope to convince you that learning languages does not only pay off, but that it also makes you a more well-rounded individual.

    1. Getting More Job Opportunities

Although I have never been in the workforce, I have had may fair share of jobs throughout the years. Due to my ability to not only excel in my language classrooms, but to also be able to effectively communicate in them, I was able to tutor in both Spanish and in French, as well as tutor privately at home. I tutored in French 1, 2, and 3, as well as in Spanish 3. Instead of following the traditional approach of tutoring, I would create study-guides for my students and would sit one-on-one with them. I would help them review material at their own pace and would work with them on with vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, reading, writing, and speaking. My ultimate goal was not to simply help them get an A on their next exam, but to make them feel comfortable using a different set of skills, and to be able to use their target language in the real world.

Aside from tutoring, I also babysat a younger girl for a few years and looked after her by playing games with her while only speaking to her in Spanish. I have also used my languages to have more effective and straight-forward communication between my parents’ friends, immigrants, minority groups, and children and I by speaking to them in their native languages. By doing so, I believe that the most effective relationships can be built, as I do not have to rely as heavily on translations, which can oftentimes lead to miscommunications, misinterpretations, or to mistranslations.  I hope to utilize my language skills at an international organization that promotes effective change by giving back to underprivileged individuals.

2. Friends All Over the World

At just nineteen years old, I can say that I am fortunate enough to have friends in 5 continents in over 20 states and countries thanks to my language studies. I attended an immersion language camp called Concordia Language Villages in northern Minnesota for 4 years by going to the French, German, Italian, and Russian camps. By consistently returning to those language villages, I made friends from around the country, making friendships that will last a lifetime and that continue to motivate to become a better person and language learner.

When I was younger, I attended a bilingual elementary school, which allowed me to meet first-generation classmates from around Latin-America. My high-school had students host international students through the AFS exchange program. Through those experiences, my family hosted students from Thailand and from New Zealand. I also became close friends with students from Norway, Japan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Argentina, and many other countries. By frequently participating in my university’s language clubs and tables, I have friends who are teaching assistants, international students, and other students who share some of my passions. No matter where my family ends up traveling next, I know that I will most likely have a connection in most regions of the world.

3. Discovered New Cultures

As the video above says, through my studies, I have learned how to appreciate individuals who think, believe, and act differently than I do and that both of my cultures do. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of traveling to 5 continents and have friends around the globe, giving me a more open-minded perspective on cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences among different individuals. I especially enjoy working with children, immigrants, refugees, and minority groups by helping them feel welcomed and comfortable living in a new country.

I have already helped Hispanics become accustomed to a new country by speaking to them in Spanish and by responding to their particular needs. One of my most memorable experiences was collecting books for underprivileged Hispanics and bringing them to the children to pick out books in both Spanish and in English. Although this simple gesture may not seem like it could have impacted them in big ways, it definitely did. Before distributing them, I had never realized how lucky I was to be able to afford books, which I believe are one of the most important tools that children need in order to have equal access and opportunities to education and beyond their schooling. Because of my curiosity, I am hard-working and flexible. Whenever a task is presented to me, I know how to assess the situation and think about any kind of sensitivities, such as cultural differences, that the people with whom I am working may have.

Even though I only went in-depth with 3 reasons why I have found languages to be impactful in my life, the benefits surely outweigh the cons. Every day when I wake up, I continue to be thankful for all of the experiences that I have already had and that I will continue to have. All of these reasons are what ultimately give me drive and motivation to push through the tough days and not give up on my lifelong goals and dreams.