Being able to speak multiple languages is now more important than ever in today’s diverse society. Beyond just communication, being bilingual has indisputable advantages for your career and personal life.
A common place where being bilingual is useful would be in the workplace where the ability to communicate with a broader range of clients and colleagues.One common place you can find yourself being bilingual in is if you’re working for an international company and you speak both English and Spanish, you could effectively bridge communication gaps with Spanish-speaking clients or partners. This could lead to better customer service, smoother negotiations, and stronger business relationships. Being bilingual shows many employers that you have the ability to work with diverse groups.
Growing up, my grandmother on my mom’s side took care of me and my sisters while both of my parents worked. The only small issue was our language barrier. She spoke fluent Spanish and I was 8, speaking English in elementary and Spanish at home. I was struggling to communicate with her in Spanish about simple things.
My grandma never had time to learn English and as a growing child learning English alongside her, I had to adjust to her Spanish vocabulary almost every day. I ended up speaking “Span-glish” which is just English words filling my Spanish sentence gaps. When Spanish classes were first offered to me since moving here, I was so happy because it was an opportunity to learn a new language. It was a new way to connect with family and friends on my mom’s side.
I had always had an on and off relationship with speaking Spanish at home. I tried to avoid it whenever I could, but I really couldn’t. I always felt embarrassed or ashamed when I had to witness her broken English being spoken when she took us out to lunch. I have a core memory of my little sister ordering a cup of water at In-and-Out and grabbing free lemons and sugar packets to make lemonade. My dad was in shock and honestly looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. He scolded my sister and asked where she learned that from, when she told him our grandma he shook his head and made a mumble and left it at that.
Since that point, I never felt too comfortable sharing with anyone that I came from a Hispanic background and it’s stuck with me. I’m always hesitant and I never really want to tell people my background. I understand curiosity but I want to protect my peace more. But the language itself brings me closer to my family members – it’s essentially the only way to communicate with them. I feel more at home being able to talk to my other family members in confidence, but at school? Count me out.
These days, I’m trying to honor my heritage by taking pride in being bilingual. One of the most well-documented advantages of being bilingual is its positive effect on brain function. According to The National Library of Medicine, being bilingual was tested for the cognitive benefits and how people who are learning and using multiple languages engage different parts of the brain, strengthening neural connections and even delaying cognitive decline.
Nowadays, employers are looking for applicants who can adjust to international work settings, and being multilingual offers a clear competitive edge. Bilingual staff members are able to interact with a wider variety of customers, establish global collaborations, and comprehend cultural quirks that monolingual staff members could overlook. Working at a grocery store and being bilingual helps connect people. You can talk to other people who are unfamiliar with the store and make good conversation.
Multilingual experts are actively sought after in a number of high-demand industries, such as healthcare, education, diplomacy, and customer service. Being multilingual is a huge advantage in a market where being unique is essential.
Being bilingual opens a bridge to a variety of opportunities that only speaking one language wouldn’t give. It’s the connection between different cultures that bring people together so easily, and speaking two languages is rewarding and worth the time and commitment.
