How Important is it to be Bilingual or Multi-lingual in Today’s World?

Have you ever been someplace, say an amusement park, or walking down the street and heard people speaking in different languages? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to address someone in his or her native tongue?

I feel that being bilingual or multi-lingual is very important in today’s world. Countries that don’t encourage this are falling behind while those that do encourage it are racing ahead.

I speak English fluently and Spanish almost fluently. I understand even more languages. I can pick up words in French, Portuguese, German, Greek, Russian and converse with someone speaking in Italian while I speak in Spanish. Several of these languages have similarities, others don’t. I understand Greek and Russian because I’m of the Orthodox faith and have attended services in both languages.

Here’s a quote from Northwestern News

“…the majority of the world’s population outside the United States is bilingual or multilingual, Marian noted. In the U.S., approximately one out of five American households speaks a language other than English at home, according to the U.S. Census. And, with higher birth rates among Hispanics relative to the rest of the population, that proportion is rapidly growing.”

To read the full article, go to Evanston Now

What are your thoughts?

Remember, next week starts the "Bounce into Books" book blog tour.

posted by Joy Delgado
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