Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
As the world has become globalised, the importance of acquiring a foreign language is increased. Some claim that learning a foreign language is merely to go on a holiday or business trip overseas while there are people who are opposed to this idea and think that there are other additional reasons. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this issue and give my own opinion.
There are some reasons that people support the idea of learning a foreign language only for the purpose of travel and work. Firstly, the vast majority of people tend to achieve a better outcome with a specific goal set. Setting specific goals such as to travel without the fear of having difficulty of communication that may be caused by a language barrier and to successfully achieve the mission of the business trip are the most practical reasons to acquire a foreign language. Despite the numerous hours and tremendous effort to achieve a foreign language, the frequency of foreign language usage in everyday life is comparatively minimal and if it is not practically used often enough, the time and effort that were put in are being wasted. Thus, the main reason for learning a foreign language is to travel and work abroad.
On the other hand, some may argue that the reason for learning a new language should not be limited to only for travel and work outside of the motherland. First and foremost, the world that we live in has become exceedingly globalised and multi-cultural and that obtaining the ability to speak and interact with people from foreign countries is highly beneficial in modern society. For instance, achieving sufficient competency of a foreign language allows more opportunities to make foreign friends and experience cultural diversity. While it is extremely hard to become competent with a foreign language, individuals are more likely to accomplish the desired outcome if their learning experience is enjoyable. Moreover, acquiring a language that differs from a mother tongue is also recognised as a productive way to spend spare time for individuals as it enables people to develop personal skill and increase their quality of life. Therefore, there are various reasons for learning a foreign language apart from travelling and business trip.
In conclusion, although learning a foreign language is beneficial for travel and work overseas, I agree with the idea that there are more reasons and positive impacts of acquiring a new language.