I am writing an essay on the advantages of being bilingual i wans wondering if anyone had any tips?

Question

I am writing an essay on the advantages of being bilingual i wans wondering if anyone had any tips?

Answer 1

Many jobs have a bi-lingual pay bonus.  My co-worker gets a bonus because he speaks "Hungarian".  How many hungarians do you know around here?  In my previous job, the bonus pay was like 2.5% added to your paycheck.  Some jobs require you to be bi-lingual, and some jobs prefer bi-linguals (in any language), hence putting a non-bi-lingual person at a disadvantage.

It gives you a back-up language to fall onto when you're having a communication issue, thus having a higher chance of communication.  For example, a person might not know english or spanish, but maybe the person's friend knows spanish.  Also, alot of languages are related.  For example, coche means car in both Spanish and Tagalog (filipino).

It helps improve spelling in some cases.  In spelling bee's, the speller will sometimes ask what the etymology of a word is (where the word came from).  If the word originally came from Italy, then knowing Italian will help you to spell it correctly.

It can build friendships or repoire quickly.  My dad's mom was a spanish teacher, so my dad learned spanish.  In check-out counters, he'll joke around with the clerk in spanish.  This usually gets him the employee's discount.

It gives you an ability to encode your messages.  You might write something in spanish so that your family can't read it.  Or you might choose your passsword in spanish so someone trying to break into your computer won't ever think of it.

If a homeless person approaches you and asks for money, you can pretend you don't know english (lo siento, no hablo ingles senor).

If traveling abroad, some places will charge you more since you're an american.  If you can speak their language with the right accent, you'll get the native price.

You can watch more tv channels.  I sometimes watch channels that I don't understand because they're doing crazy stuff there, but I can never make out what is being said.

Answer 2

I once gave a speech in Toastmasters for the 'convincing' project. I chose the topic of adopting Spanish as a second language in the States. I thought I had some convincing arguments, but the various national origins rose in protest. 'What about German, what about Polish, etc.' I was soundly lambasted.

I was proven right; Spanish is emerging because the rest of the hemisphere speaks Spanish including Brazil! Another argument is alignment with market needs in our hemisphere, e.g., prepared foods and farm commodities.

In Europe it is considered a sign of cultural development to speak several languages. In Switzerland I was seeking directions in Zurich, and a policeman answered my German in Italian, I answered in Italian, and he bid me farewell in English. They play a game there of finding your best language.

By the way, when you learn your languages, learn the proper accents. In Germany they could tell I was from Frankfurt with my 'sh-sh' accent. during a later business trip I spoke German with a convincing accent, and my hosts were complimentary.

Answer 3

you can go to different countries and speak that language.

can help with vocabulary.

Answer 4

The only advantage of being bilingual is if you can speak spanish. Unless there's a job that particularly wants another language, but usually it's spanish. So even if you are bilingual, but don't speak spanish, you are still disadvantaged if you're bilingual. Just my opinion.

Answer 5

you can get better paying jobs all around the us being that almost 30% or more speak one language , such as spanish my sister gets paid 15.50 an hour because she is billungual and fluent in both spanish and english and she is only a secretary

Answer 6

Maybe mental flexibility, divergent thinking, easily adaptable to other countries, conceptual thinking. that's really all i can think of. look at the source below too. hope this helps.