In a globalised world, sensitivity to foreign cultures is imperative. From academic collaboration and professional networking, to travelling – the modern world requires one to pick up more than one language to add in our arsenal. But with more than 7,000 languages worldwide, picking a foreign language to learn becomes a challenge.
When deciding what foreign languages to learn, it often bores down to practical reasons and personal preferences. Unfortunately, the Korean language often loses out to languages such as English, Chinese and Spanish in terms of popularity. This is unfortunate as learning the Korean language offers numerous benefits that are often overshadowed by more popular languages. If you’re wondering if the Korean language should be the next foreign language to pick up, here are 4 reasons why learning Korean is a wonderful investment.
1. Advanced Career Prospects
Over the years, Korea has experienced remarkable success in securing rapid economic growth, positioning itself as a global leader in the global political economy. It has the 4th largest GDP in Asia and the 10th largest in the world. Besides, it has also cemented its position as a leader in innovation and technology within just a few generations. If there are any career opportunities to be held, South Korea is definitely not short of them.
While many Koreans have picked up English for ease of global communication, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of them do. Many still require the help of official translators to help them communicate with their international partners and vice versa. Equipping yourself with Korean language prowess offers you a competitive edge for companies that require two or more languages to operate, giving you more career opportunities than monolinguists and those who are not proficient and fluent in the Korean language.
2. Enhanced Brainpower
As with any other languages, learning the Korean language enhances your mental development by stimulating intellectual growth and cognitive abilities. Unlike many romance languages, languages that possess a different writing system, grammar syntax, concepts and vocabulary are more challenging to understand. Simply put, the more complex a language is, the more brainpower you’ll need to use and the more mental exercise you’ll put your brain through.
Since the Korean language ticks all of these boxes (with its Hanguel writing system and a grammar syntax structure that is very different from English’s), you’ll most definitely stimulate your brain. Apart from enhanced brainpower, it will also reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline and keep your mind active and sharp!
3. Better Travel Experience
South Korea has managed to climb up in ranks when it comes to the top travel destinations – and it’s little wonder why. Compounded with the Hallyu wave and popularity of Korean media, South Korea is known for its food and shopping scenes, and picturesque sceneries. If you have plans to travel to Korea, you’ll want to make the most out of your trip by putting in the effort to learn Korean.
By learning Korean, you’ll revel in the ease of navigation, communication with the locals and more. These factors will help you build the foundation you need to have the best travelling experience.
4. Better Understanding Of Culture
It comes as no surprise to learn that a Korean drama series or song was the reason behind your piqued interest in Korean culture. Majority of Korean music and dramas contain subtitles, but learning the Korean language provides you with an entirely new experience altogether. Having Korean language abilities will give you the gateway to a more meaningful and deeper understanding of the subtle nuances of the Korean culture and traditions that are either overshadowed or simply doesn’t translate well into another language.
If you’ve decided to take the plunge and learn the Korean language, then let us help you! As the top-rated Korean language school in Singapore, we take pride in delivering the Sejong standard: a systematic, structured and engaging teaching methodology that has been vouched for by thousands of students. If you’re looking for a quality language school that will guarantee you proficiency and fluency in the Korean language, look no further than Sejong Korean Language School.