Here are fifteen things studying a new language might do for you. Language study
1. broadens your experiences; expands your view of the world
2. encourages critical reflection on the relation of language and culture, language and thought; fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature
3. develops your intellect; teaches you how to learn
4. teaches and encourages respect for other peoples
5. contributes to cultural awareness and literacy, such as knowledge of original texts
6. builds practical skills (for travel or commerce or as a tool for other disciplines)
7. improves the knowledge of your own language through comparison and contrast with the foreign language
8. exposes you to modes of thought outside of your native language
9. a sense of relevant past, both cultural and linguistic
10. balances content and skill (rather than content versus skill)
11. expands opportunities for meaningful leisure activity (travel, reading, viewing foreign language films)
12. contributes to achievement of national goals, such as economic development or national security
13. contributes to the creation of your personality
14. enables the transfer of training (such as learning a second foreign language)
15. preserves (or fosters) a country’s image as a cultured nation
The above modified from Alan C. Frantz, "Seventeen Values of Foreign Language Study" (ADFL Bulletin, vol. 28, Nr.1, Fall 1996).
http://www.uni.edu/modlangs/main/WhyStudyLang.shtml
<<1. broadens your experiences; expands your view of the world>>
So does gardening, fishing, mathematics, cloudwatching, history, reading Freud, physics, fashion, watching porn, and drugs (a definite must).
Besides, you don't necessarily need to learn the language to expand your view of the world, reading in translation is enough.
<<2. encourages critical reflection on the relation of language and culture, language and thought; fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature>>
More like convinces you that such relations are mostly bullshit, deliberately thought up philosophical onanism.
<<3. develops your intellect; teaches you how to learn>>
It teaches you to memorise, not be smart. It doesn't foster logical thinking. Languages are illogical and often the only solution is just to ask a native speaker if something is correct or not and accept it. It doesn't encourage the ability to think for oneself, which is what true intellect is.
<<4. teaches and encourages respect for other peoples>>
Quite the opposite. It taught that other cultures most often don't deserve respect. I used to think "all cultures are equal and special". Then I learnt languages and I saw first hand that no, some cultures actually are inferior rubbish. I respected them before because I didn't understand them, now I've seen their true colours beneath the seemingly innocuous mask.
<<5. contributes to cultural awareness and literacy, such as knowledge of original texts>>
Since you will never reach a high enough level to read with native like fluency, it is much better to read texts in translation. You will understand much more. Translation is not perfect, yes, but it's a pretty safe bet that the translator is at least better than you.
<<6. builds practical skills (for travel or commerce or as a tool for other disciplines)>>
If you want to do international commerce, study international commerce. Enough of this indirect nonsense. Learning A helps learn B, which helps learn C, which helps learn D, which helps learn E. Just learn E to start.
<<7. improves the knowledge of your own language through comparison and contrast with the foreign language >>
This is only because most people have never even studied their own grammar (at least in English speaking countries). The same effect could be achieved with a quick course on English grammar. Again, why learn A to learn B when you can just learn B?
<<8. exposes you to modes of thought outside of your native language>>
Everyone thinks the same. Modes of thought are really not that interesting. Um, if you really want to try it, just do it in your native language. You'll get bored really fast. For example, try think without conjugate verbs. Wow, I be have so much fun do this.
<<9. a sense of relevant past, both cultural and linguistic>>
What is that supposed to mean?
<<10. balances content and skill (rather than content versus skill)>>
What is that supposed to mean?
<<11. expands opportunities for meaningful leisure activity (travel, reading, viewing foreign language films)>>
11. Gardening also expands opportunities for meaningful leisure activity (travel to botanical gardens, reading books about botany, viewing documentaries about pollen)
<<12. contributes to achievement of national goals, such as economic development or national security>>
Here I might agree.
<<13. contributes to the creation of your personality>>
Yes, it turns you spineless and multicultural. It gives you an awful superiority and inferiority complex with respect to monolinguals and foreigners respectively.
<<14. enables the transfer of training (such as learning a second foreign language)>>
What is that supposed to mean?
<<15. preserves (or fosters) a country’s image as a cultured nation>>
Just don't go so far that you start creating your own country's culture in a foreign language...
These aren't tips, imo. They are possible benefits.
My Suggestions:
1. Learn a language you like, if possible.
2. Get lots of listening practice (hundreds of hours).
3. Record yourself or get a program that analyzes your pronunciation.
4. Have fun.
Don't listen to people who have only half-learned a language.
Lol. that's princeless, demotivator!
<<<<5. contributes to cultural awareness and literacy, such as knowledge of original texts>>
Since you will never reach a high enough level to read with native like fluency, it is much better to read texts in translation. You will understand much more. Translation is not perfect, yes, but it's a pretty safe bet that the translator is at least better than you.>>
Funny you saying so! I am very fluent in English, but today I accidentially read Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech in translation and for the first time I really grasped it! Guess I was just kind of linguistically masturbating with my perceived high-brow superiority earlier.
"To be or not to be... and for the first time I really grasped it"
What did you think it meant, "To Be or not to be a Bee?"
The whole speech, not just the first line, Pollinator.