Bonjour! Comment allez vous? Do you speak a second language? Fluently? Yeah, me neither. Although goodness knows I’ve tried!

In the United States we don’t put much emphasis on learning a second language and it shows. Only about 15% to 20% of Americans consider themselves bilingual, compared to 56% of Europeans.

I’ve dabbled in French since I was a sophomore in high school, so I got on the language learning boat late and I’ve stepped off it a time or two or three and that has not helped!

According to scientific studies on language learning, the critical period for learning a language is from infancy to puberty. During this time children readily absorb the rules of a new language and easily imitate the sounds they hear. Most European and Asian countries start second language learning between kindergarten and fifth grade giving their students a definite edge.

Too bad educational institutions in the United States don’t make second language learning a priority since speaking more than one language can positively impact your salary and job prospects. Some studies suggest that speaking a second language can increase your compensation by as much as 35%. This is especially true for jobs in hospitality, international travel, client management, marketing, and global operations; and the need for bilingual and multilingual employees is only going to increase.

Language learning is so important to national security that the United States government has spent billions of dollars on it, much of that right in our own community at the Defense Language Institute. There they don’t just focus on language, instructors spend a significant amount of time helping students understand the cultural aspects of countries including their food, art and sporting events. In addition, DLI regularly hosts events and festivals that promote cultural understanding among students enrolled in a variety of language programs.

Cultural understanding and foreign language skills forge connections between diverse people, foster a wider world view and allow us to function more effectively in a global economy. Demand for talented, culturally sensitive, multilingual employees will result in greater leverage for those who take up the challenge of second language learning.

Are you intrigued by the possibility of expanding your marketability, motivated by the thought of connecting with your fellow workers or simply want to express yourself with ease when you travel? We are fortunate to have a variety of resources at our fingertips to help.

Near and dear to my heart is the Alliance Française. The local chapter, AFMonterey, https://afmonterey.org, is a cultural alliance with a focus on culture and events. There is also a Bay area chapter, AF Silicon Valley https://www.afscv.org, which focuses on language learning. For those interested in learning more about Italian language and culture there is a similar organization, Societa Dante Alighieri with a chapter in Santa Cruz https://www.dantesantacruz.com. Although not local there are other organizations which promote German, Portuguese and Spanish language and culture.

In addition to these resources, several colleges and universities in the area offer language classes including Middlebury International Institute, Cal State Monterey Bay, University of California at Santa Cruz, Hartnell College and Monterey Peninsula College. Languages range from Spanish and French, to Chinese and Japanese, to German, Italian and American Sign Language. Go ahead, expand your horizons!

Mary Jeanne Vincent, career expert and strategist, has a coaching practice in Monterey. She may be reached at (831) 657-9151, mjv@careercoachmjv.com, or www.careercoachmonterey.com