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Why study languages?
Why study languages?

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1.3 Function among locals

There are often situations where not being able to speak a language can hold some people back from taking a job transfer abroad. If you have language skills, you will be a lot more confident about day-to-day tasks, if you are living abroad. Even if your job does only require you to know English, you will adjust a lot easier if you do know the local language. It can help with shopping, buying a house, or sending your children to school. It can also help you to make friends.

Activity 7 Where do you want to go?

Timing: You should allow 15 minutes

Think about your own career or careers that you are considering for the future. Do any of these involve languages? Write your thoughts down and include as many details as you can about your aspirations for the future.

Then think about how languages can help you get there. Regardless of the profession you've chosen, try to think of ways in which knowledge of languages may be able to help.

Discussion

This activity will have helped you to think about your career objectives, and to realise how versatile language skills can be.