"Mastery of Languages Paves the Way to Enlightenment"
In a world increasingly interconnected, the ability to communicate across borders and cultures is more important than ever. Language learning, therefore, plays a crucial role in enhancing cultural understanding, social connections, and economic opportunities.
Roger Bacon, known as 'Doctor Mirabilis' and an early European advocate of the modern scientific method, once said that knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom. Today, this sentiment holds true as we navigate the complexities of a globalized world.
Learning another language deepens cultural understanding by revealing idioms, customs, and ways of thinking unique to that language’s community. This fosters empathy, reduces misunderstandings, and helps people appreciate different worldviews, which is essential for social cohesion in diverse settings.
Multilingualism also enhances cognitive skills like problem-solving and creativity by enabling people to switch mental frameworks and think flexibly. It helps build stronger interpersonal relationships by facilitating communication beyond mere transactional exchanges, promoting trust, inclusivity, and empathy across cultural divides.
In the economic sphere, speaking multiple languages is a valuable skill in the international job market. It opens access to global career opportunities, international assignments, and broader client bases. For businesses and entrepreneurs, language skills enable entering new markets and collaborating effectively across borders. Moreover, language learning equips workers with adaptability and fresh perspectives that are assets in globalized workplaces.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded Creative Multilingualism project found that language diversity and creativity are mutually reinforcing. The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has made significant contributions to the area of languages, including the 2020 report A Languages Crisis. The British Academy has urged governments, policy makers, educators, business and industry leaders, and others to protect and widen capacity for, and promote the opportunities of, widely accessible languages education.
In the UK, the number of pupils studying German and French at A-level has almost halved since 2013. However, the importance of language learning is not lost on employers. Fiona Hill, a leading foreign affairs specialist and US Presidential adviser, studied German and French at a school in County Durham. She, along with many others, recognizes the value of language skills in the job market.
Durham University, ranked among the best in the world for its School of Modern Languages and Cultures, values language learning as it benefits students culturally, socially, and economically. Graduates who can live and operate across language areas will have an advantage in the future world of work.
As we move forward in a globalized world, the ability to talk with others who may have different ideas and interests is critical. In a world where English is the dominant language of scientific communication and spoken by nearly a quarter of the global population, it is essential to remember the importance of learning and valuing other languages. The British Academy has called for a renewed commitment to multilingualism and languages within education to prepare future generations for international collaborations and fostering harmony at home.
Sources:
- The HEPI blog on languages
- The British Academy
- Durham University
- The Creative Multilingualism project
- The 2020 report A Languages Crisis by HEPI
- Information about Durham University's Vice-Chancellor
Online education platforms can provide opportunities for education-and-self-development, including language learning, which contributes to understanding diverse cultures and enhancing social connections. Learning multiple languages also cultivates cognitive skills like problem-solving and creativity, making individuals more adaptable in the globalized job market.
