Why You Should Study a Language in College

When I first went to college, I was set on being a neuroscience major. I loved everything about biology, I still do lol, and kind of had an interest in going into medicine. “Neuroscience it is!,” I thought. As I was planning my schedule, I remember thinking to myself, How cool would it be if I could be fluent in a language by the time I graduate?!

Okay, so I wouldn’t say that I am absolute fluent, but I do know a lot more than I thought I would ever know! Are you thinking about starting to learn a new language but want a little more insight? Keep on reading!

It Teaches You Discipline, Patience, and Hard-Work

This semester, I have been very intimate with the Spanish language. Out of the six classes I am taking, four of them are completely in Spanish. After my first year of studying Spanish on the collegiate level, I got really discouraged and just stopped. I thought to myself, who even cares if I know another language? What is the point? I felt dumb, too slow at picking it up, and made up in my mind that it just wasn’t for me.

MYTH: Learning another language is not for anyone. We all have the capability of learning another language. The question is not can you do this, it is will you do this.

At the time, I didn’t see the value in it at all. However, during the summer before senior year, I had some space in my schedule and decided to finish my Spanish minor. And yes…..it has been tough. Nevertheless, in almost thirty days ya girl will be graduating with a minor in the Spanish language!

Learning another language teaches you discipline and hard work. Learning grammar and vocabulary is tedious and very frustrating at times. It can be easy to give up, as you have learned from my story, BUT just like anything else in life, anything good worth having takes a lot of practice and patience.

The Ultimate Travel Inspo

I remember the first time I traveled to Spain in college, it was the summer before my Sophomore year and I thought I was an advanced Spanish speaker because I knew a little something-something. Hahahah, I was terribly mistaken. I went back last summer and ended up speaking much more fluidly, though still stumbling over a couple of words. Even though I didn’t have much Spanish practice in between those times, just knowing I was in Spain for a second time with my friends gave me a little more confidence in myself.

If you want the ultimate inspiration to travel….S T U D Y A L A N G U A G E. Part of studying a language includes studying the culture. From the history to the types of food you will learn, you will inevitably find yourself trying to put a little money aside to visit a country that speaks that language. There is nothing more fun than being in a classroom where you are talking about a historical place and thinking, “OMG, I have been there!”

You Gain an Appreciation for a Culture Different Than Yours

The world does not revolve around one person, one culture, or one country. Hold on. Let me say it a little louder for the people in the back. THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND ONE PERSON, ONE CULTURE, OR ONE COUNTRY. (And before y’all come at me, Jesus or God is not human or a person.) When you get a chance to immerse yourself in a culture other than yours, you inherently start to chip away at the idea that your culture or where you are from is the only narrative of truth that can exist. You learn that even if someone lives a little different than you, they can still live a fulfilled and beautiful life. Different no longer means wrong. When you study a language, you study the way in which individuals have used communication over time to tell stories, fight wars, fall in love, build civilizations, establish identities, and so much more. I think all students should learn another language because it truly humbles you.

Gives You Access to Another World, One Beyond Your Dreams

As a premed, I volunteer at the hospital weekly. I remember stepping into the elevator after my shift when a couple followed in behind me. As the good volunteer I am, lolololol, I smiled and said, “How are you doing today?” The woman frowned and said, “Hablo español.” So I saidddddd, “Hola. Como esta? Hablo español también! ” Seeing her face lighten up was probably one of my favorite moments. I ended up staying past my shift to help answer some questions she had about her child’s stay and went home feeling so happy that I could help that family out. When you study another language, you are able to access so many different types of people. You have the opportunity to interact with people you probably wouldn’t interact with before, helping you realize that we are not so different after all.

You have to have a W H Y for learning the language. Because the reality is, there are times where you are going to want to throw up your hands and call it quits. For me, my why is that as a future physician, I want to be able to reach and help as many people as possible, especially those who are from underserved communities. When you learn a new language, you are learning much more than a bunch of words that sound fancy. You are humbling yourself to a level where you understand that the world is so much bigger than you. You are respecting another’s way of life, yes, with your grammatical mistakes in all. I know, it is hard. But don’t fret. You are not the only one. Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint.

Have I convinced you yet? Comment what language you want to learn next down below!