9 benefits of learning a second language

There was a time when it was compulsory to take a GCSE in a modern foreign language (MFL), but unfortunately in the early 2000s MFLs were made an optional choice. As a result of this, the number of pupils taking GCSEs in French, Spanish, and German has been dropping year on year. This then means that fewer people are going on to study MFLs at university level, and we're starting to see a shortage in MFL teachers, thus perpetuating the lack of interest in learning other languages. Everyone else learns English, so why should we bother? Many native English speakers don't see the point in putting the effort into learning a second language because everyone else wants to speak our language. This is a really lazy attitude. Sure, a lot of people around the world are very keen to learn English, but that doesn't mean that we should stop making the effort to learn a second language. There are a number of great benefits to learning another language, and it's never too late to learn... 1. Employers love it The job market is incredibly competitive, so your best chance of getting hired is if you have an edge over the other candidates. In today's global market, being able to speak a second language makes you an incredibly valuable asset to an employer as you can help to bridge the gap between countries, helping your employer to tap into new markets. Speaking a second language also demonstrates to an employer that you are open, diverse, flexible, intelligent, and empathetic to other cultures, which are all desirable skills that employers seek in their staff. 2. It makes you smarter Learning a second language improves the functionality of your brain, improves your memory, and increases your attention span. Acquiring a new language challenges your brain to recognise new words, negotiate meaning, and communicate using different grammatical rules. This skill helps to boost your ability to solve problems and absorb new information, thus helping to make you smarter. 3. It makes you better at multitasking   Multitasking is stressful for many people, and both tasks tend to suffer as a result. Bilingual people are skilled at switching between two different systems of communication; so ‘juggling' languages in this way typically leads to a better ability to multitask in other areas of life too. A study carried out by Pennsylvania State University asked participants to use a driving simulator whilst doing separate tasks at the same time, and it was found that those who spoke more than one language typically made fewer mistakes than their monolingual counterparts. 4. It improves your English skills When was the last time you stopped to think about the grammar of the English language? Unless you're studying English at university it's probably been quite some time since you considered the structure of the language that you speak every day. Learning a second language focuses your attention on the grammatical rules and constructions, which in turn gives you a new insight into English and can help you to improve the way you communicate in your mother tongue too. 5. It improves your overall academic performance Learning an additional language sharpens your cognitive skills, not just in terms of taking on a new system of communication, but also in other subjects. Studies have shown that children who learn a second language at school tend to perform better across the board than children who are not taught a second language. It's never too late to benefit from this enhanced academic function, so why not use your elective modules to study a modern foreign language and potentially enhance your overall degree performance?6. It staves off dementia and Alzheimer's Your brain has muscle-like qualities in that it grows and flourishes with regular use. Learning a second language is certainly a great workout for your brain! The acquisition of a second language helps to strengthen your brain's function, and several studies have found that multilingual adults are more likely to experience the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease at a later age than their monolingual counterparts; 75 and 71 years of age respectively. 7. It gives you a better understanding of the world Learning a new language not only gives you a new way to communicate with people, it also gives you a better understanding of different cultures across the world. Each different culture has its own music, literature, media, history etc and having an understanding of a particular language opens up these new things to you, giving you insight and understanding of different cultures. For example, if you were to learn to speak Portuguese you would be able to learn more about the culture and way of life in both Portugal and Brazil, among several other countries who also speak the language.8. It helps you to travel If you're planning on backpacking around Europe, South America, or Asia, it can help to understand the language of some of the places you'll be visiting. The ability to say even a few key phrases in the native language of the country you are visiting will enrich the experience for you. It's true that most people in larger cities speak English fairly well, but if you want to get off the beaten track in Cuba or Mexico, knowing some Spanish will help you to communicate with the locals, make friends, and find your way around. 9. It increases your confidence Mastering any new skill is sure to boost your confidence; whether it's learning to code, learning how to crochet, honing your baking skills, or passing your driving test. Learning a new language is no different. In fact, it's probably one of the most important skills you can master. Having the knowledge and ability to communicate with a whole new set of people will fill you with pride, and the more you use this skill to speak to fluent speakers of that language, the more confident you will be in using your new skill. This confidence then transfers to other areas of your life; if you can master a second language, you can pretty much take on the world!

Outsourcing Essays

Outsourcing Essays Outsourcing Essay Outsourcing Essay Outsourcing can be described as an agreement whereby a company provides services for another company that could hold traditionally been performed in-house. This tendency has been really common across industries and it is chiefly attributed to the increasing concern competition. Some of the services that organisations tend to outsource include planning A ; concern analysis every bit good as the installing. constellation. package development. direction and service of their information systems substructure. Organizations choose to outsource some of their services with some of the grounds cited being. anticipated cost nest eggs. enhanced accomplishments and direction. handling of overflow state of affairss and the demand for the organisation to concentrate on its nucleus scheme and maps ( Steven Bragg. 2006. p. 1 ) . Whenever outsourcing is performed. its reverberations can be both positive and negative. and it is upon organisations to larn on the best ways to efficaciously pull off their relationship with their service supplier while at the same clip placing state of affairss where outsourcing is appropriate in order to recognize a competitory advantage. this is so because the organisation in the long tally shall keep responsible for their ain merchandises and non the seller who supplied to them the outsourced labour ( Bill Ellmore. 2007 ) . Should governments ban the outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries? Explain your answer. 1- Who do you agree with? Why? I agree with Simon Prystay the director of education. if the government goes with outsourcing it will reduce employment opportunity and it will affect the welfare of Australian workers as they deserve to be valued in their country , to be paid well not depending in low wages India or Philippines take and to support the resources and the skilled employees they have. Should governments ban the outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries? Explain your answer. Yes, governments should ban the outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries as the companies should invest more in their countries , close borders and support themselves using the resources they already have Also for the reasons that I refuse outsourcing is that it might be difficult for the workers to understand the other culture they are dealing with. Cultural differences are also greater in case of off shore outsou rcing. Misunderstandings can occur due to differences in language. Outsourcing can also prove to be a threat to the security and confidentiality of issues of a company. Hidden Costs : the government will sign a contract with the outsourcing company that will cover the details of the service that they will be providing. Anything not covered in the contract will be the basis for you to pay additional charges. I think there are other ways to save money or improve services is to cut services or increase taxes than outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries.

Granada Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Granada - Assignment Example In another ruling the International Court of Justice suggested that the right to self-defense could be invoked in an isolated low-intensity strike.4 Regardless there is a general standard that is safe for self-defense and where authorized by the UN Security Council force may not be used against another state not even for the purpose of â€Å"rescuing one’s nationals abroad, saving aliens from widespread deprivation of human rights† or as a pre-emptive strike â€Å"against a grave but distant threat†.5 The doctrine of ‘opinio juris sive necessitatis’ which allows an opinion of law or a necessity of law together with â€Å"state practice† dictates that the exceptions to the use of force in international law are far more flexible than they were when the UN Charter 1945 came into being.6 Since the end of World War II, the world has changed significantly to the extent that threats may be perceived differently. The invention of nuclear weapons, an i ncrease in international human rights, â€Å"and the emergence of global terrorism† have â€Å"significantly affected attitudes toward permissible uses of force†.7 In assessing current conditions in the world today, Durant and Durant maintain that international law as it is currently constructed cannot adequately regulate peace and security. A State â€Å"must be ready at any moment to defend itself† and â€Å"when its essential interests are involved† a state â€Å"must be allowed to use any means it considers necessary to its survival†.8 Controversy and debate continuously challenged whether or not there are limitations on the right to self-defense. For example, when the US proposed the Kellog-Briant Pact of 1928, the Pact stated that no prohibition on war could restrict the right of a â€Å"sovereign state† to use force in self-defense.9 A similar statement was made by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in 1948 which est ablished that state sovereignty alone made self-defense an inherent right.10 The international law on the prohibition against war and the right to self-defense is therefore contested. If the doctrine of opinio juris and state practice creates customary international law, it can be argued that virtually any threat, regardless of how serious might be interpreted as a situation in which the right to self-defense can be invoked. Moreover, if state sovereignty prevails, the inherent right to self-defense gives states the authority to use force against another state for any number of reasons including pre-emptive strikes, or rescuing nationals, or any other purpose that can be peripherally justified, provided the state is protecting its sovereignty. The Invasion of Grenada The US’s invasion of Grenada is just as â€Å"controversial† as the international law prohibiting war except in self-defense.11 When the decision was made to invade Grenada in 1983, it was justified on the grounds that American citizens were in danger and it was necessary to restore peace after a coup. However, it was well-known that the primary goal was to stop the spread of communism anywhere near