Read on Twitter
People should study a language not because it expands income but horizons. I speak Japanese, Vietnamese & basic Mandarin & none of these things add to my CV as I don't intend on living in Japan, Vietnam or mainland China.
But languages help w/ understanding culture & people. https://twitter.com/XLHawkins/status/1299021721605939211
But languages help w/ understanding culture & people. https://twitter.com/XLHawkins/status/1299021721605939211
To master/be conversational at a foreign language other than your native tongue, it requires sitting down on a chair & learn. And most importantly, it requires u to commit to turning something that is very foreign to familiar.
The ability to pronounce words, write characters etc
The ability to pronounce words, write characters etc
Is fundamental to understanding people. How can u spend time judging/analyzing something if u don't try to understand their soul? I don't think getting to fluency is necessary unless u want to live somewhere or use it for a living. But I do think speaking only 1 language limits u
A good example: To understand English, learning French is helpful to see the words that are derived from French. Better yet, know Latin. But u don't have to go there. I can't say I speak French, although have taken lessons, but I understand English better after learning French.
Embedded in it, of course is history. The Romans in England. The French/English complicated relationship, etc.
And Asia is united and fractured. By knowing Vietnamese, Japanese & learning Mandarin, I see the roots of these languages. I'm not mustering words, but anthropological
And Asia is united and fractured. By knowing Vietnamese, Japanese & learning Mandarin, I see the roots of these languages. I'm not mustering words, but anthropological
As in, I think a Vietnamese person can learn more about Vietnamese by studying Cantonese/Mandarin. Vietnamese words have roots in Chinese (we call it Han). And the Chinese call their language Hanyu. If u've studied Japanese like I have, u'd recognize history when u study Mandarin
Beyond languages, people should watch foreign movies, listen to foreign music & read foreign literature.
Our education is too Western centric & by that I mean Anglo centric. I have studied in both America & the UK & Japan & Vietnam. I do have comparative educational perspective.
Our education is too Western centric & by that I mean Anglo centric. I have studied in both America & the UK & Japan & Vietnam. I do have comparative educational perspective.
Anyway, if I have an advice for a young person, learn a language other than the one u know.
Study abroad. Expose yourself to a culture other than the ones you grew up with & then you will see your own culture more clearly through the juxtaposition of others, as in the mirror.
Study abroad. Expose yourself to a culture other than the ones you grew up with & then you will see your own culture more clearly through the juxtaposition of others, as in the mirror.
Once u do, and when u meet people that behave in a shockingly different way, u can use your imagination to try to understand why. We are all products of history, culture, and time. And if u know that, u can understand, even if u don't accept. It expands ur horizon. Income not key
Besides, the key marker of a very successful adult is perspective. And to achieve that, that person must have had very good training via parents, education system, or character building.
And to gain perspective, you must try to see what u can't see. Hear what u don't hear.
And to gain perspective, you must try to see what u can't see. Hear what u don't hear.
And then u can say, well, I tried to understand it, I don't like it but now I understand.
And I see where they come from. And u can use that information however you like. But that is how u see, through perspective.
And how can u have that if u only have yours & not the other?
And I see where they come from. And u can use that information however you like. But that is how u see, through perspective.
And how can u have that if u only have yours & not the other?
