Why learn a language?Have you ever wondered why you should learn a language? We at LLL feel there are MANY good reasons to learn a language... and we're sure that our language learning friends out there agree. If after reading the following you think there is anything we've missed, please kindly let us know and we'll add your thoughts! The comment box is at the bottom.
REASON 1: MAKE NEW FRIENDS! Did you know that not one of the top 3 languages spoken by most people in the world is English? According to Wikipedia the top 3 are Chinese Mandarin, Hindi/Urdu and Spanish. English comes in at a close 4th!
So, instead of expecting everyone else to learn English, why not learn another language and widen your chances of making countless more friends? Nothing brings a smile to stranger's face more than when you say something in their mother language. What a way to break the ice and show your interest in other people! Try getting a handle on the following greetings, just to get you started:
If making new friends by learning a new language is of interest to you, then check out our Online Community Learning links on the Live Online page for a guide to interacting with others in your new target language, via the web. 
REASON 2: TRAVEL THE WORLD! The first reason leads to #2 nicely, because let's face it, you might live in a country where most people DO speak English and so necessity is not laid upon you to learn another language. In that case, your desire to reach out to more people and thus broaden your mind will mean that you get to travel in order to do so. What a great reason!!
If you'd like to investigate this further, please see our travel tips and guide on the Go Abroad! page.
REASON 3: FALL IN LOVE! The next time you travel somewhere, or bump into someone around the corner, well, it just might be a foreigner. A romance may blossom, and this brings us to reason #3. Although there's nothing like the language of love and all that can be transmitted with a single glance... for real trust and companionship to thrive, you'll need to be able to communicate using words!
If this has been your experience, please let us know and share your experiences with other language learners, using the form at the bottom of the page.
REASON 4: BE BRAINY! Some people simply thrive off of learning and filling in the blanks by means of learning about and studying languages. Or maybe you are one of those that just has to be at the top of the class?
If you're brainy, then we're sure you don't need us to convince you of the merits of learning a language! But if you're wondering where to start, we would recommend our Software section as this form of learning is all-embracing, using multimedia along with dictionaries and exercises.
REASON 5: TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE! How do you react when something difficult comes your way? Some people love to take on a challenge, and if you're one of these, then language learning is the thing for you.
Consider the story of Helen Keller, who at 19 months was left deaf and blind by an illness. Her teacher, Anne Sullivan, was able to teach her language by fingerspelling letters/words into the palm of her hand. At 10 years of age Helen Keller was inspired by the story of Ragnhild Kåta, a deafblind Norwegian girl, who had learned to speak. This made Helen want to learn to speak as well. Sullivan taught Helen to speak using the Tadoma method of touching the lips and throat of others as they speak, combined with fingerspelling. Helen later also learned Braille, and with it was eventually able to read not only English but also French, German, Greek, and Latin. Helen Keller went on to become an authoress and actress. If Helen Keller could do it, surely you can! And with all the resources and tips available on or through LLL, what reasons are there NOT to jump right in?
REASON 6: MAKE MORE MONEY! Imagine you already speak another language... well, take a look around and just see the jobs people have already stolen from you: Translators, Tour Guides, Pilots, Flight Attendants, Receptionists, Teachers... the list goes on! Why let any more opportunites pass you by?
And what about impressing your boss? Why not be available to go on a business trip to another country, or simply widen the range of clients you deal with? Be better then the rest and add a language to your resume! If you'd like to start making money right away, why not use your language skills with ProZ, an online translation job post. 
REASON 7: CALL YOUR GRANDMOTHER! So many kids these days have grown up in Western Countries, speaking English, for example. This has created a new language barrier even within their own families, because they haven't learned their own parent's language and now find it difficult to communicate with their relatives. Why should such a sad situation exist? Parents, don't let your children become alienated from the family in such a way - teach your children! And you kids, there's no reason why you shouldn't learn your family's native language.
Let Live & Learn Languages help bring your family together. Try making a pictionary/dictionary game, where the children create the word cards using a dictionary. Then play traditional pictionary together in the native language. If you need a dictionary, check out our Dictionaries page.
REASON 8: MAKE IT IN YOUR NEW ENVIRONMENT!
You may have emigrated to another country, or the journey may be imminent. Well, there's no time like the present, to learn another language. Why, being surrounded by new sounds and the new culture will be the best way to learn in the end, like many expatriates have experienced. So we encourage you to embrace it and do your best!
For a great resource on finding language help in the country you are moving to, try going to this website to see language exchange possibilites. If you want to search by country, click on "International" at the top, then choose the Country, and then click on "Language Exchange".
REASON 9: TEACHER SAYS SO!
Let's face it, most of us had to tough it through language classes as we grew up, whether we liked it or not. Then, we were given more choices... well, if your child or children are now going through that same experience, why not equip them to ace those classes and give them a better chance of actually liking the language that they're being forced to learn at school?
Indeed, for anyone, why should language class be a bore, when you can make your studies that much more fun by using Live & Learn Languages! For some fun learning tips try looking at our Videos page.
REASON 10: ON A MISSION!
If you're among the ones who "preach the word" and care to take it to the "most distant part of the earth" to "every nation and tongue"... well you probably don't need any more reasons to show why learning a language is beneficial, do you?
You've made the correct move in coming to Live & Learn Languages, we'll show you how to get fluent fast! Choose your language from the Language Index and use our "Immersion" tips and guidelines for that language. Expose yourself to the language using these tips and resources everyday, and you'll soon be spreading the word in your new language!
How has learning a new language benefited YOU?We'd love to hear how learning a new language has added to your life and why you had to learn it. What difficulties and challenges did you come accross? What benefits have you enjoyed as a result of learning? Please e-mail us your experiences using the form below.
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