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Learn another language

Learning a new language can open the door to unique job opportunities that are only available to multilingual professionals. Here is everything you need to know about learning a new language.

Why learn another language?

Learning a new language can help you understand how different cultures and countries communicate through verbal and written means. Depending on the language you choose to learn, the difficulty and time commitment required will vary. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), language training can take anywhere from 24-88 weeks if you study about 25 hours per week.

When you learn a new language, you can qualify for jobs such as translator and foreign language teacher.

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Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

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Choosing the right language program for you

When choosing the right language program, consider your goals. If you are learning for fun, identify which language interests you the most.

If you're learning a new language for a job, research the opportunities that will prepare you to for your field of interest.

Here are several ways to start learning a new language today.

Courses

Taking a language course is a great first step in exploring a new language in which you're interested. Most courses take a few weeks and are free of cost.

Certifications

Earning a certification in a new language may help you demonstrate your skills to future employers or clients. Program length varies but can last a few weeks to a few months.

Executive education programs

When your schedule is tight, executive education programs provide opportunities to learn a new language that works with your time constraints. These programs are best suited for managers or aspiring leaders seeking to upskill in their current field.

Degrees

Bachelor's and master's degrees in language studies provide the ultimate understanding and path to fluency in a language in which you're interested. Bachelor's programs typically take four years of full-time study to complete, while a master's usually takes two years. A doctorate can take 4-7 years to complete.

Jobs in other languages

Learning a new language opens up many job opportunities that directly and indirectly utilize your new skills. Below are some career options you can consider:

Translator

Translators work for individuals, businesses, schools, hospitals, or legal courts, helping to convert spoken or written communication from one language to another.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree and/or fluency in the language
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median annual salary (2023): $57,090
Postsecondary foreign language teacher

Foreign language teachers help individuals learn a new language. This job can be done remotely, in person in your home country, or abroad.

  • Required education: PhD or master's degree
  • BLS median annual salary (2023):$78,760

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    FAQs about other languages

    Why should I learn another language?

    Learning new languages can be fun, but it can also prepare you for job opportunities. Additionally, it can support an existing career if you regularly work with people from another country, travel often for work, or live somewhere where clients speak another language.

    How long does it take to learn another language?

    According to the FSI, learning another language takes between 24 and 88 weeks, assuming that you are studying at least 25 hours per week. The variation in time depends on your prior experience, the quality of your study program, and which language you choose to learn.

    How hard is it to learn another language?

    The difficulty of learning another language depends heavily on the language that you choose. The FSI classifies each language by difficulty on a scale from one to four. Category one languages like Italian and Spanish are the easiest to learn, whereas category four languages like Arabic and Mandarin are the hardest.