Department of Education : Why learn languages?

Many Tasmanian students have found languages rewarding both personally and for their careers. Here is what some of them have to say.

Simon Post-Graduate Student Nagoya University of Foreign Studies.
Learning a language provides a way to connect with people and it also allows an insight to other aspects of culture and society.
Belinda Kindergarten Teacher, Japan
Language has opened the door to an entirely new culture.
Emily Graduate Trainee, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Speaking foreign languages is vital to the work of a diplomat, so having learned languages before helped me a great deal.
Matthew Assistant Language Teacher, Yaizu
My exchange year when I was third year university in Kyushu was one of the best years of my life, and I still see the friends that I made then as often as possible.
Philippa Student
My background in French helped me adapt faster to the language and culture there when I was working as an Au Pair. Languages are well looked upon by employers for jobs which include customer service.
Rob Marketing Coordinator – Exporter
I like being able to converse with people from other nationalities in their language about what is important to them.
Zoe Teacher
I've been offered work overseas in a variety of industries as a direct result of the languages I have studied (e.g. education, business, travel industry, hospitality). I can out-compete mono-lingual candidates.

Why learn languages?