To speak or not to speak? |

Many foreigners don’t find learning Korean beneficial. And rightly so because most contracts if not all of them last only for one year. Who wants to strain their brain in learning a language that you will not be able to use once you leave Korea? It is tedious and time consuming to learn a new language. We are in an age now were we want things fast and easy. Why is that? Because the process of doing something is no longer valued. We want more for less and we more than often put quantity before quality.

You have to ask yourself however. What are the benefits of learning Korean while in Korea or any other language for that matter? Don’t you want to increase your value as an employee? Don’t you want to stand above the crowed? There is an increasing demand in Korea for foreign Teachers that speak Korean. In fact, those Teachers are offered better positions and in most cases higher pay. Isn’t that a benefit in learning a second language?

I think it’s important to speak a second language not just for the reasons stated above but for personal growth and a plethora of other reasons as well. It’s important to learn the language of the country you are traveling to because it allows you to move about the country more freely. It will make your time there more enjoyable and you will be able to experience more of the country because you can freely express what you want to say. And you will be more confident in yourself and your ability to interact with the people you meet along the way on a deeper level.

The world as Thomas Friedman puts is flat because communication is becoming less of an issue with time. The world’s nations are merging in a technological and communication revolution. Why get left behind? Language is the biggest barrier between individuals and nations. That is becoming less of a barrier but not fast enough.

Coming to Korea, I only knew a few words and phrases but the longer I stayed in Korea, the more I wanted to learn. This is partly because I really don’t have an option and since I have been offered another job and considering it, it is even more pertinent. But the more I learn the language, the better my experience here gets and not only that, when traveling within Korea the fear of getting lost dissipated and I can move freely within the country and thus experience more of it.

By learning a new language, your opportunities only increase. So what have you got to lose? Although it is not easy, it is highly beneficial. But don’t let me do all the talking, what do you think?