Charlemagne, once the king of the Frankish empire and known by historians today as the “Father of Europe”, once said: “To have another language is to possess another soul.” Though he lived nearly 1300 years ago, the words of the grandson of Charles “The Hammer” Martel ring truer today in our modern, ever-shrinking world of globalization than ever before.
Whether you’ve decided to learn Arabic for business or pleasure, there is certainly no doubt that language learning has many benefits. And in today’s world, there are many situations where learning a foreign language is more important than just learning Arabic for beginners so you can visit Petra in your gap year and try to speak Levantine Arabic with the locals.
One of those situations is, of course, when you’re studying at university where the time you spend studying can be an excellent chance to work on the skills that will be most beneficial to you in your future. This is also an excellent time to hone your language skills by interacting with fellow Arabic learners and possibly even native speakers of Arabic.
The fact is, learning Arabic has become a necessity for nearly all college and university graduates today, and if you’re still not convinced, here are four more reasons why you should learn Arabic before you graduate:
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1. You’re More Likely to Get Higher GPAs
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Many studies have been done on the effects of learning foreign languages and researchers have found that bilingual people have significantly better overall cognitive abilities than those who speak one.
This means that, among other things, people who speak Arabic and English are more likely to have higher general intelligence; score higher on standardized math, reading, and vocabulary tests; and have better memory and memorization skills, including better working memory – in other words, all of the skills that college and university students need for academic success.
2. You’re More Marketable
Chances are you’re not going to be the only fresh graduate in your chosen field applying for that dream job you saw online that you’ve so coveted since your first day as a freshman. This means it all comes down to the numbers game, as there will be a huge number of other qualified individuals applying for that same dream job.
Speaking Arabic can help reduce the number of employees you’re competing against, which bring us to our next reason for learning a second language
3. You’re More Attractive to Employers
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Mastering Arabic helps you stand out from the crowd, especially if the position you’re seeking is with an international or multinational company like one of the Arabic speaking countries of the Middle East. When asked if you can speak Arabic, employers don’t want to hear, “No, but I’m a quick learner.” They want to hear, “Yes, I’m quite fluent in it and speak a wide variety of Arabic dialects.”
4. You’re a Better, More Well-Rounded Person
Okay, so a successful career isn’t only dependent upon how good high you’re GPA is; rather, it is also very much dependent upon how you use your time at university to develop personally. Learning Arabic can help you do that. You can use your bilingual skills to travel, meet new friends, or even live and study abroad as part of your university’s exchange program.
That not only makes an impressive resume, but it also helps you have a better understanding of the different cultures of the world which, in turn, can make you a better person. So there you are – four excellent reasons why learning a second language is not only beneficial to your academic success but is also beneficial to career success.
If you enjoyed this article on the benefits of learning a second language in university and would like to learn Arabic online as your second language, please visit our website at kaleela.com where you can learn more about Arabic language and Arab culture.
While you’re there, check out the newly released Kaleela Arabic language learning app – one of the best Arabic language learning apps available today. It’s the perfect app for college and university students on the go, allowing you to learn Arabic language skills anytime, anywhere! Visit kaleela.com for more info.