In today's modern world there are a lot more people than can speak a secondary language compared to about 20 years ago. There are so many languages to choose from it's kind of hard to decide where to start from. Currently one of the most widely spoken languages in the world is Chinese but more people seem to rather learn Japanese as a second language compared to Chinese. Learning a second language takes a great deal of time and effort but in the long run it pays off.
Today some of the most widely spoken languages are listed here. They may vary from websites to websites like here it tells you some of the most spoken and here it tells you the most popular languages here.
I personally think learning one of two languages might help in today's world. I speak English as a second language here and studying a third language at University.
The sad thing about learning a second language or a third one in my case is that it's time consuming and you have to practice using that language as well. Lack of practice means you would forget the language you learn and it would've been a total waste of time.
hey there, um i think that learning a second language does have its pro's and con's. I have read your article and i agree, learning a second langauge in "todays world" can be a lot of help. Travelling, meeting new people and many other things can come into the picture if people start to learn a new language. I know it does have its downside, it is time consuming, and just like you said if it's not used all the time, or often enough it can slowly start fading away. For example I am currently learning Japanese and in the holidays we just had, i had done no study and what made it worse was that I didn't get to communicate and use the language so when i got back. I was kind of lost, and it took me a little while to get back into the swing of things.
ReplyDeleteBut looking on the bright side i strongly think that learning another language can be of great advantage in the future.:)
Hey. I definitely agree that learning a second language gives way to more opportunities in that it allows you to live and work overseas etc. Not only does it open up a wider range of career opportunities but it also aids in understanding others. Learning a second language not only involves grammar practice but also involves learning about the culture and the people from which the language originated. I believe that this in turn helps one with tolerance and understanding when it comes to interacting with a diverse range of people. For example, like you I am studying Japanese but as you will know it not only involves the study of grammar points. We also learn about how the Japanese people interact, their customs, and their ways of thinking etc as it is important to understand the culture and the people as a whole in order to interact with them. I personally feel that this has helped me to appreciate and embrace different cultures. Our world is becoming a lot more multi-cultural with people living and travelling overseas and many countries are now sharing trade agreements etc thus it is important that we are able to communicate with and understand people from all different cultures. Quite often people judge other people and other cultures due to a lack of understanding. You have lived in China and New Zealand and can speak three languages. Do you feel that this has helped you in becoming a more tolerant and understanding person?
ReplyDeleteI think a lot more people are beginning to learn second languages now because people travel heaps more compared to 20 years ago. It is really useful to have a basic understanding of a language before travelling so you are not just relying on a travel guide, or finding somebody else that can speak english.
ReplyDeleteI think chinese is so widely spoken because the country is so big, but there seems to be a bigger need for people to speak japanese for thing such as trade.
I definately agree about how time consuming learning a language is though!!
like Oriana, i did no study over the holidays and forgot a lot of the stuff we had just learnt.
Natalie: It helps knowing serval languages as it gives me a better understanding of life. Back I think during WWI or WWII (can't remember which is which) but China and Japan used to ABSOLUTELY HATE each other. Since I grew up in NZ I have a better understanding of the 2 cultures. Personally I think it's the older generation Chinese that dislikes that Japanese. My family (particulary my parents and grand-parents are all narrow-minded) they were all against me learning Japanese
ReplyDeleteOriana: I think the key to being fluent in any language is with practice. Just like you I've also kinda forgotten my Japanese over the holidays as well. Some languages are quite similar to each other in a way. For example Japanese and Chinese are similar
I agree with Cherushii, the only reason why Chinese are so "widely spoken" is just because they have 14 billion people in its country, it is not as international as other language like English or French, that is why a lot of people in this century speak English as an second language but still not many people can speak Chinese as an second language.
ReplyDeleteKnowing a second language always been a benefit, not only for today’s world, but also for the future. Of course it will take time and practice, and until you master the language it doesn’t really help in real life, but it does change your personality as you go along, the way you think, the way you act by learning from another culture.
And about Chinese and Japanese dislike each other, I think it is still on. Chinese are so blinded they just simple against everything of Japanese, every time Japanese say yes Chinese will say no; In the other hand every time a foreigner commit a crime in Japan the first nationality Japanese will think of is Chinese, and sadly most of the time they are correct.
PS: NiouJas, I’m learning Japanese is well, you can see even from here how popular compares to Chinese.
As a Chinese New Zealand born, I've always felt guilty about not knowing how to speak Cantonese, and still do since I'm not actually learning it either, and am instead learning Japanese which just goes back on to the popularity of the language.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of why people decide to learn one instead of the other, i think it just depends more on how the culture from that country is perceived in the west, for instance many people learn French because of the romantic image associated with it. And many people learn Japanese i think because of it's vast pop culture influences, whereas China is only just emerging now, i think more and more people will start to begin learning it as a second language.
I have started learning another language because I couldn't wait to leave my country and go 'out there', and travel and see all the magnificent things the world have to offer..but, in the end, that is just a superficial motivation...in reality, learning very well another language is much more than that! It really gives you the possibility to think with an extra brain, to develop another way of thinking, strictly connected to how you have to differently express yourself...you can't use the same phraseology or construction or images you do for your own language, because there is another culture growth, that maybe prioritise certain aspects of life more than others, and this reflects in the words and how the vocabulary and the syntax have evolved. So subconsciously you pick up all those things, they just become part of you widening your horizons
ReplyDeleteI feel as if knowing a second language is almost a necessity these days. So many people speak multiple languages and it seems advantageous in all areas of life. I think Chinese or Japanese is particularly useful in business, so I understand why it's a popular language. Actually, I'm majoring in Japanese and minoring in Chinese, go figure~ ;P
ReplyDeleteCherushii: First of all I couldn't reply to your comment earlier. iw as writing it during my Japanese Self Acess lab time so gomen ne =o= it's true that Chinese is popular by the amount of speakers there are. Cantonese Chinese is my first language and well sometimes I feel kidna ashamed since I can't read or write my own lanugage very well. The thing is I came to New Zealand when I was 6 and at that time I was still little and didn't go to primary school in China.
ReplyDeleteSunny: What you said about the Japanese saying "yes" and the Chinese saying "no" I think it's true in a way. it like when the Japanese "Pulls" the Chinese "Pushes" and about the whole Crime thingy I dunno if it's true but it sounds pretty accurate to me. TO everone else reading this I suggest you watch "Shinjuku Incident" what Sunny wrote is mentioned in that movie =) Oh and it seems more people at AUT rather study japanese than Chinese. Well I asked a friend whose studying Chinese as her major and she said there's like hardly anyone in her class.
Rob: You don't need to feel guilty about it. I know serval other people in similar situation as you but they don't let it bother them but like you they also feel guilty sometimes being unable to speak Chinese. A few take classes and finding it hard to Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. I got a Chinese Malaysian friend from high school and she was born and raised here, speaks NO chinese at all and well she tried learning mando but quit after a few weeks. She said it was too hard nut like I said it takes time to learn a language.
Jegna:I suppose a reason why people learn another language so they can get out of their country. I like the way how you said learnign a second language givs you an "extra brain". I suppose the extra brain can change one's personality =) and quite true about learnign another language. It does broden your horizon. At least we know our horizons aren't so dull. It adds mroe colours to life XDD
Aaron:Knowing a second language a necessisty? Hmph interesting way of putting it. For me I loved languages when I was in high school so I figured why not put my likes to good use. As for Chinese and Japanese for Busniess it's a good combiniation since tehre's a lot of trade going on with China at the moment. Hey another major in Japanese besides me XDDD I'm in Jpaanese 2 at the moment (go BA Japanese!!!) and well not really finding it too hard. If you've taken a second language in high school and continuing it in Uni it's a real advantage =)
In my first semester at University, I chose to learn Chinese. I was really interested, class was fun and although studying Chinese only for one semester, I think I really learned a lot (writing, speaking, cultural aspects…) But… unfortunately, after my first semester I’ve never had time again to continue my Chinese studies. Every following semester I had class at the same time the Chinese course was held. So… when I consider what I remember now, it is simply nothing compared to three years ago. It’s such a shame that I nearly forgot everything I worked so hard for. However, this is what happens to your language skills when you don’t practice...
ReplyDeleteWhy is Japanese so popular (in New Zealand?) and not so much Chinese? I didn’t know about this.
Aaron: I also think that learning a second language is a necessity - at least when you strife for an international career (and don’t want to stagnate in a not so well-paid job in a little town in the country…)
Talk about popularity, I still remember on my Orientation day, we had like 20 people lined up for Japanese BA, and Chinese BA had 2......... I felt sorry for them, honestly.
ReplyDeletemohnkuchen: I feel sorry for you being unable to continue your study in Chinese. Japanese being popular in New Zealand? well the thing is I had friends from different high schools and well most of them said they have Japanese as an option at school. It seems to me there are more Japanese teachers out there than Chinese teachers. Even if you were takign Chinese in high school they're most likely to teach you Mandarin Chinese (Mando). Reason being there are more Mando Speakers compared to Canto (cantonese Chiense) speakers. I'm not exactly sure which areas in China speaks Canto but I do know places liek Hong Kong, Macau and my hometown of Guangzhou speaks Canto (I think that aprticular area speaks Canto)
ReplyDeleteJust a note for everyone:
Canto is Cantonese Chinese
Mando is Mandarin Chinese
It's a pain typing them in full so I've shortened them =)
sunny: ahahahaha I remeber that. I feel sorry for the 2 people doign BA/Dip Chinese.. poor them
ReplyDeleteI apologise if I make so many typos.... One of my pet peeves >__<
ReplyDeleteHI,
ReplyDeleteLearning a second Language in todays world is a serious advantage especially peopl striving for an international career and also as cherushii said for people who travel it is a huge advantage to know the basics of the language of the country they are travleling to. Travel has grown in the last twenty or so years so the need to learn a second language has also increased with that. Also especially in a country such as New Zealand which is so multi-cultural a second language is quite beneficial, in highschool for example there were groups of chinese, german brazilian, french, kiwi, japanese, korean and chinese students. Also in different aspects of society many cultures are evident so learning a language that coincides with the other cultures in NZ would greatly better relations with people of that culture. I hope this makes sense cos it makes sense in my head.
Yes learning a language takes a great deal of hard work and commitment but surely it pays off in the end the benefits personly would be astronomical. Better your carreer strengthen your intelect, open doors socially etc.
Yes why is Japanese so popular in NZ. Perhaps NZers can relate to the pop culture aspect of the japanes culture better than relating to the romance culture of france spain etc.
Jasmine: Interesting comment you posted. I should do some research on "Why is Japanese so popular in New Zealand?" XDD Well we do live in a multi-cultural society and thank god for that =) You know If i wasn't learning Japanese I be learning Spanish =D Well your comment gave me soemthign to think about =)
ReplyDeleteA note to everyone: Thank you all for posting =DD