4 reasons to learn a new language | John McWhorter

English is fast becoming the world's universal language, and instant translation technology is improving every year. So why bother learning a foreign language? Linguist and Columbia professor John McWhorter shares four alluring benefits of learning an unfamiliar tongue.

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[sanjanivikash]

My favourite is when a language has a word for something that doesn't exist in your native tongue.

[GendaijinBlog]

A new language teaches you culture, and often the experience of learning a language does change one's personality enough to be quite noticeable... I have different personalities in both my native languages. I've seen more than a few outspoken Americans live in Japan for a few years and come back speaking softer, more pleasant (my personal opinion) English... at times, learning another language teaches you concepts you've never thought about in your own language; therefore, making you realize your ignorance. In turn, you become a little more humble and open-minded. Learning a language does change how one sees and feels the world.

[marianavargas]

My native language is Spanish, and took me a lot of time to be good at English. I can understand how hard can be to learn a new language, but also I know how wonderful is to become a bilingual person. The feelings you have when you are finally understanding and speaking another language are great. All the time I spent studying English was worth. Also, I'd like to learn French, Japanese, and Korean.

[vorgbws]

I'm Korean, and I learn English to speaking in English.
I read English newspaper and see CNN news before I sleep. And from now on, ted is great for speaking in English. because I can listen to the English, and learn something from many people in ted. TED is so great program that I see for twelve years(I'm twelve years old)

[Mary-eoir]

Speak to someone in their second language and you speak to their brain, speak to them in their mother tongue and you speak to their heart

Édit: this was 3 years ago and I had forgotten about this comment, but yes, these are not my words and it is not a correct quote. My guess is that at the time I remembered it vaguely and thought the sentiment fit with the video.

[aliciahaley]

My favorite word in my second language, Portuguese, is “camaraoes, ” the plural of “shrimp.” It sounds so beautiful! Having learned Portuguese, eventually passing my proficiency exam graded by a Yale University professor, has opened the doors to many friendships and cultural understanding. Most importantly, being in the right place at the right time, I was able to translate for two adopted Brazilian boys (formerly living on the streets in Brazil) who were being seriously abused in the home. The adoptive father ended up in prison for what he did. In the Police car, the lady Officer asked me to ask the boys what was the thing they liked best about living in the USA. The 9 year-old replied these haunting words: “in America, when someone beats us, there are people to make them stop.”

[BloodyRomance]

I teach foreign language. I understand that there are “shortcuts” like translators and so forth. But learning a language extends your first one. Learning a language helps people better understand the struggles of someone learning English. Learning a language is a means of expression and a way to delve into a new culture.

[Ryan-tk]

Video Summary:

Learn a new language because:
1. Everyone is learning english so if we don't learn a new language they will all but disappear
2. helps to prevent dementia
3. makes you a good multi-tasker
4. it's fun

end

[sheco]

I genuiely can't describe enough how amazing it is to know more than one language! most of the time I just forget about it (and I'm sure almost every bilingual does) till you see someone's reaction WOAH! YOU SPEAK ENGLISH PRETTY WELL!
it feels nice to have more than one source to get information, to explore a new culture, to understand almost everything without asking for help, also the confidence that comes with it.
there's many many benefits of learning a new langauge.

[horaciomainomujica]

Learning any new language has always been very useful. It gives you new job opportunities, one feels fulfilled, cultures and idioms are learned. Speaking English is already an official language in many parts of the world and allows you to communicate with different people

[Yarshy.]

I learn languages because I enjoy meeting people and understanding their culture. Now on my eighth language - although it's been really difficult to get to this stage I've enjoyed every minute spent learning a new language (((:

[BRAMBSSS]

I see many people stating the number of languages they speak.
I always find those statements somewhat difficult or misleading, because it could mean several things.
1. You know a few sentences in 5 languages(doesn't count in any way, but I really have spoken people who thought it did)
2. You can survive if you had to live in an environment where you had to speak one of those languages on a day to day basis. (usually with bad grammar, sentence structure and accent, but could get your point across to others)
3. You can have a reasonable conversation in 5 languages.
4. You are fluent in them.

If I take myself as an example: I am completely fluent in 2 languages, I am reasonably conversational in 1 and could survive in another 1. How many languages do I speak? When can you say you speak a language? Is that point 2 or point 3? I myself think it's 3, but I could be too strict. I am curious what others think.

[Alejandra_Mar]

I am from Peru and I speak Spanish, for a few months I set myself the goal of being able to speak English fluently to meet professional goals, watching this video has completely changed my goal of learning this language and continuing to learn others too. I found the health benefits you can get from learning and speaking two or more languages very interesting. Finally, it also seemed so important to me that the fact of learning another language involves learning and understanding about the different cultures of other people. This is my favorite phrase from the video (The language channels the culture).

[aleglzmtz]

I really like the fact that the idea is shared that motivation is an important factor in being able to learn new languages ​​every day, and that it also opens the doors to worlds that we did not know.

[MrCMPUTR]

This guy is one of my favorite linguists. I watched his entire video series on language and cognition and linguistics from the early 2000's. I highly recommend it though I don't remember the name.

[fatimamedina]

What the Sr. mentions is very true, since English is the most indispensable language today, in every profession it is already very necessary; mainly if it is traveling, doing business, sales or in order to teach someone else.

[MrCageCat]

44 years old and I started learning German 2 weeks ago, as it's something I've been wanting to do for years, but keep putting it off. My goal is to be able to speak it fluently within a year's time. Wish me luck.

[macarusi]

The reasons are in:
1 4:26
2 6:04
3 6:28
4 8:23

[BreBrebunny]

I love learning languages! My native language is English, but I’m studying Spanish and I am working towards a minor in the language. I hope to learn Korean and many more languages in the future but for now I’m dedicated to learning Spanish and becoming more fluent. Being able to understand the Spanish that I do has already opened so many doors with me in terms of friendship, education, and simply being able to help people. I love it 🥰

[lakomencanto]

I started learning Esperanto about two weeks ago, and I'm enjoying it! Learning a new language is like opening a chest that contains a new perspective of reality, a new point of view. I'm definitely going to learn as much languages as possible.