The Joys of Being Bilingual

The joys of being bilingual
Learning another language has many benefits apart from aiding research
RUSS THORNE THURSDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2012
John Morgan is in the first year of a PhD on environmental history. He faces the challenges
confronting most postgraduate students, from managing time to getting the research done. But
theres an added difficulty. German historians are currently publishing lots on natural
disasters and the environment in early modern Europe, he says. Im keen to engage with
this literature, but the vast majority is in German.
Not a German-speaker himself, Morgan, who studies at Warwick University, is following a
course at the institutions language centre to help his research and get his language skills up to
speed. Its tough going, but I think Im getting somewhere. Because Im a total novice, Im
not yet able to read German fluently. But that is my goal. I think its worthwhile.
Hes not alone in this ambition. Some universities report increasing numbers of students
looking to learn extra language skills, and classes are offered with postgraduate programmes
at institutions up and down the country, often in bespoke language centres. People learn
differently: some want to be at home, some in a dedicated language learning space, explains
Paul Barnes, of the university of Bournemouth. Students can study on site at the universitys
language centre, but there is also a virtual learning environment for remote study as well as
audio and video programmes. Our staff can advise on programmes to follow, or students can
devise their own, he says.
Rather than offering academic qualifications, these courses are aimed at non-specialist
language learners who want to pick up skills in addition to their studies, says Barnes.
Studying a language is open to all students. Its not part of their degree, but is recognised by
us as being an important part of the university experience.
Depending on the university, courses may simply reward students with improved skills, while
others offer some kind of formal recognition. At Warwick or LSE, for example, students
follow Lifelong Language Learning or Modern Foreign Language Certificate Course
programmes respectively, with graduates receiving certificates for completing a set number of
hours of study. The cost depends on the institution. Some of the courses are free; others cost
several hundred pounds.
As well as on-campus courses, students can choose online schools, CDbased lessons or
podcasts to help them learn. You can learn effectively by almost any means, as long as you
use the right method, says Sylke Riester, director for Europe at the language learning
provider Rosetta Stone. A complete immersion approach with a strong emphasis on
developing communicative skills is the most effective method.
Fitting language learning into a demanding postgraduate study schedule can be hard, but
Barnes believes that Masters students are well placed to rise to the challenge. I think they
have a better understanding of the importance of it [than undergraduates] and perhaps a more
mature attitude to independent study generally, he says.
For those who make the effort, there are many benefits to learning a language. One of them,
says Nick Byrne of the LSE, where about 800 postgraduate students take language as an extra
study option annually, is the boost to their academic output. Theyre able to access far more
resources than just articles written in English, and can also connect better with academics in
other countries.
There are also all the transferable skills you pick up when studying a language, he
continues. Communication, intercultural awareness its far more than just language in
itself.
The learning process can improve students abilities in other areas, too. Learning a language
is actually more a cognitive problem-solving activity than a linguistic activity, says Riester.
The process of learning a language activates the brain in ways that benefit us in learning
many other things.
In practice that might mean becoming a better communicator in English, for example; it can
also help with the formal side of academia. Learning a foreign language can improve
students awareness of register, formality and so on, says Barnes. Its useful for academic
writing.
And according to Evan Stewart, director of Warwick universitys language centre, as well as
enhancing your mental flexibility, creativity and higher-order thinking skills, those extra
language skills can benefit your career prospects. Of course, its more valuable in some
workplaces and environments than it is in others, but it clearly represents to prospective
employers that you are someone who will actively seek out challenges and also that you have
an aptitude for picking up new skills.
He adds that CBI figures (from 2011 Education and Skills surveys) suggest that, for some
employers, competence in a second language is hugely beneficial in the interview process
regardless of whether it is a requirement of the position. Riester agrees. Its not about being
fluent in a language: three out of four of employers say that they are interested in basic
conversational ability. In competitive times, graduates and professionals alike must seek to
improve their career prospects by acquiring new skills and refining existing ones to stand out
in the application process.
And in an increasingly global workplace, the cultural understanding that comes from learning
languages can be just as useful as a nifty turn of phrase with the language itself. The majority
of young people in a Masters programme today can expect either to work abroad or to come
into contact with non-English-speaking clients or business partners, says Riester.
Finally, apart from the academic and professional benefits, learning another language can be
intellectually satisfying in itself. Many simply enjoy the experience, says Stewart.
Language can open doors into areas of interest that perhaps would otherwise remain
undiscovered, and can prove reinvigorating as a different challenge to the main body of work
that a student is completing.
John Morgan certainly believes that his language classes will lead to a better thesis, but he
also enjoys the variety they bring to his academic life. Its totally different from my PhD
work. There are classes and homework, which can be instantly rewarding, he says. It
exercises parts of my brain Id forgotten I had, and it certainly wont hinder my career
prospects!
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