Knowing what the future holds for you after high school is nearly impossible. But knowing what you want to happen and doing something about it in high school is one way to control your future.
Jamie Pryhuber is doing just that by trying to teach herself several different languages to better secure herself a job and a successful future.
“I remember in elementary school I used to try to teach myself Afrikaans because my mom was born in South Africa. And I also tried to teach myself Chinese,” Pryhuber said. “I know the basic phrases of [those languages], but it will take a long time for me to learn more.”
Although she knows bits and pieces of other languages, Pryhuber is now trying to teach herself Japanese.
“I decided to teach myself Japanese because it looks really interesting, and I want to learn a lot of languages before I get a job,” Pryhuber said. “Knowing many languages will look great on my résumé and will help me gain more experience when I have a job.”
Pryhuber even hopes to utilize these languages in her adulthood and knows exactly what field she wants to go into: medicine.
“I’m interested in being a surgeon or a neurologist,” Pryhuber said. “I want to be a surgeon because I think it’s fascinating how the brain works, and I like dissecting things in my science classes. I am also considering becoming a neurologist because I think it’s really interesting how the brain works and it would be fascinating to do that kind of work.”
Pryhuber also thinks knowing a language will greatly help with her career.
“I think it’s important to learn other languages because when you know many languages you can communicate with people and understand their needs. Especially as a doctor, you have to be able to understand what people need and figure out how you can help your patients,” Pryhuber said. “When they have a strong accent or you can’t understand their language, it makes it harder to do your job; knowing their language gives you an advantage.”
Exposing oneself to other languages is an important part of learning other cultures, and can benefit people in many ways.
Knowing many languages gives one a competitive edge in the workplace, allows one a professional advantage in the global economy, helps a person learn about other cultures in addition to just languages, and brings new opportunities, accordingto an article posted by Washington State University’s College of Liberal Arts.
Knowing how she can benefit from learning new languages, Pryhuber also thought it would be a better experience for her to teach herself a language, rather than paying money for a class.
“I think if you’re passionate about something, then you can teach yourself and you don’t need to waste your money on a class. I got a keyboard for Christmas last year; I was really interested in playing it, so I taught myself. Now that I know how to play, this year my parents got me an actual piano and I’ve been playing for a year,” Pryhuber said. “I don’t think it’s easier to teach yourself, though, because when you take a class you have more motivation, with homework and a teacher to help you. But when you teach yourself, it’s your own choice and you have more satisfaction when you’re finished.”
Pryhuber is hoping to learn other languages when she finishes learning Japanese, even though she knows it will take her a long time to learn each one.
“I think I’m going back to Chinese and I’m interested in learning French. I’m in Spanish II Honors and I like the language; I think it’s very easy,” Pryhuber said. “It’s one of those important languages to know right now, especially in the United States because there are so many Spanish speakers.”
Pryhuber’s motivation to learn many languages in addition to taking her high school Spanish class translates into what she wants for her life as well.
“I teach myself these languages because I really want to do it and I know I can do it by myself,” Pryhuber said. “If you’re passionate about something and really want to do it, then you can do anything you want to.”
Top 12 languages to know for business
- English
- Mandarin Chinese
- French
- Arabic
- Spanish
- Russian
- Portuguese
- Japanese
- German
- Italian
- Korean
- Turkish