Why Should you Learn a Foreign Language?
More and more software programs, electronic devices, and websites devoted to foreign languages are being developed daily. Why all the excitement? Why would YOU want to learn a foreign language?
Job Advancement - Get the Competitive Edge
Many large corporations and government agencies have positions requiring a second language. In a country like Canada, which is officially bilingual, someone who knows both French and English will have better employment prospects.
Travel
Travel to a foreign country can be exciting - and also very exasperating if you can't understand the local speech. Many North Americans are somewhat egocentric in this regard, expecting to find English spoken no matter where they are. Although this is sometimes true in larger cities, don't expect to find English-speakers in small communities.
Relatives
The world is a melting pot of cultures and languages. You probably have living relatives in other countries with whom you could communicate more effectively if you took the effort to learn at least a few words.
Genealogy Research
Some of your ancestors probably spoke a different language. If you plan to search old genealogical records, you will be more successful with at least a basic understanding of your ancestors' language(s).
Understanding Your Own Language
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, 'Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen.' or 'Those who don't know foreign languages know nothing of their own.' Learning a foreign language will give you a much better understanding of English. Your knowledge of English grammar, vocabulary, verb tenses, and sentence construction will improve when you tackle another language.
Self-Actualization and Challenge
If you've already been everywhere and done everything - perhaps it's time to tackle something new. What could be more challenging and rewarding than immersing yourself in another language?
Opera, Poetry, and Prose Appreciation
Artistic works written in a different language often cannot be fully appreciated when translated into English. This is especially obvious when listening to poetry. If poetry is translated into English with a preserved rhyming scheme, the meaning of the poetry is almost always altered. Being able to listen to the original language - with its subtle tones and nuances - will lend to a greater appreciation of the artist.
Culture Appreciation
One can only truly comprehend a foreign culture if the language is also understood. Exactly what is 'Bratwurst' or 'Calvados'? And what about foreign films? Wouldn't you like to be able to watch something with subtitles - and skip reading them?
Invigorate the Brain
Adults benefit from the brain stimulation produced by language training. Seniors who tackle a foreign language show improved brain function over a period of time. Students who learn foreign languages as children score better on academic tests. There is also evidence to suggest that they may be more creative and resourceful when faced with solving complex tasks.
Learning Teaches You How to Learn
The self discipline and study habits acquired through successful acquisition of a foreign language can be applied to many other aspects of your life.
Studying Abroad
What better way to learn about a country's culture than to study there? This requires an excellent command of the local language.
Communicate With Someone Secretly in Public
Imagine chatting in public with a friend about something private, knowing that only your friend understands!
Make Online Penpals and Friends
The internet is transforming our world into an intimate global village where you can chat via e-mail, forums, live chat sessions, and audio/video feeds.
Impress a Date?
In closing - male or female - you will make points with your bilingual date by learning a few important words. If your date doesn't speak a foreign language, he or she will be impressed by the enchanting allure of intimate expressions in one of the 'romance' languages.
So - what are you waiting for? Get learning!
©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included.
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A Series of One on One Interviews With Ukrainian Ladies. Nº5 Alena
They are possibly the most beautiful and desirable women on the planet, but sadly their
Is a distrust now, both with the men interested in these ladies and the ladies themselves, both within the FSU and in particular, The Ukraine.
This is a pity and we believe largely due to misunderstanding, or failures of communication.
What do these ladies think? What is their point of view and how do they see the West, or the men that are so attracted to them? It is hoped this series of interviews can help to break down these suspicions and doubts and help create both trust and understanding.
Question. Hello, Alena Thank you for agreeing to this interview
Answer. Hello!
Question. You are a very beautiful lady, do you have any problem attracting the attention of men?
Answer. No, I don’t have problems. I receive enough attention to feel happy.
Question. Would you like to get acquainted with foreign men?
Answer. Maybe, but aside just to know more about world life, another cultures and people.
Question. Would you like to register in an international dating agency?
Answer. At this moment I am not going to register. But I don’t reject I will do it in future. Who knows, life is unpredictable.
Question. Is it something you consider cautiously and carefully?
Answer. Yes, I consider this cautiously. I am young and now I don’t think to combine my life with any man. I just enjoy every day of life and this I leave for the future.
Question. Many Ukrainian ladies are very suspicious, or even frightened of seeking a man from the
West. Do you have some fears also?
Answer. No, I don’t have fears. I am quite brave. If I feel I need more communication and attention I will take the chance to get acquainted with foreign men through dating agency, especially when I know the agency and I trust it.
Question. Do you know that many western men are very mistrustful, or doubtful of finding?
A genuine and sincere Ukraine lady? Have you you heard these stories?
Answer Yes, I watched some stories personally, working at a marriage agency in Kharkov.
Question. Please tell me, from the point of view of a Ukrainian Lady do you think it is possible to
Find a loving, caring and respectful man from a foreign country?
Answer. Yes, I am sure women can find very good foreign men. And it is possible to find a love abroad. Just I am not eager to this.
Question. Have you personally heard of some very frightening stories? Of terrible things
Happening to Ukraine ladies, on moving to a foreign country?
Answer. I know some stories, where I was a witness working in marriage agency. There was an American man. He came twice to visit the lady in Kharkov. Their relationships came to marriage. And lady was going to move his country. But it turned out he had another wife in US. He and his wife just decided “to wide” their family….. Frustrating story isn’t it. Also there are some TV programmes about women who moved abroad, their life, problems and situations.
Question. Do you think, as a very intelligent young lady and someone fluent in English that you have a
Greater possibility of success outside of The Ukraine?
Answer. Yes, I think I have a lot of chances to succeed abroad.
Question. For me The Ukraine is a enigma, very beautiful, many very educated and
Intelligent people, it seems to have so much potential and yet life seems very hard.
Is it getting better? Do you feel life is improving within the Ukraine?
Answer. No improvement until our government will steal enough…. Probably there should be other leaders at the head of government, who know how to manage.
Question. Why do you think are so popular with men from around the world?
Answer. Because Slavic women are the most beautiful and good housewives, with high family values.
Question. What do you know of life outside of The Ukraine? Have you informed yourself in any way as to the way of life in any foreign countries?
Answer. Actually I don’t know about life abroad, I have never been there. But I suppose that life is much better there.
Question. Which comes first in your considerations, your decision making in finding your other half? The country or the man?
Answer. From my previous experience I know quite a lot foreign men. Obviously they are different from Ukrainian (Slavic) men in a lot of ways. It is individually but I like Slavic men and I would like to build my life with a man from my country, my mentality, someone who is close to my soul.
Question.Why do you think so many ladies are interested in finding a man from another country? Please give me your opinion.
Answer. I think they are disappointed with our Russian or Ukrainian men and our government also. They are seeking “the better place under the sun”. We have the expression “the better place where there aren’t us”…
Question. Do you think it will be easy or difficult starting new life in a foreign country for Ukrainian woman?
Answer. I think yes, it will be difficult. She needs time to learn another mentality and get used to stranger surrounding.
Q Thank you for your honesty and openness. We wish you every success and
Happiness in your search for foreign or Slavic man. Our door is opened and you can register when you feel you want.
A. Ok, thank you.
Q May we include your photo within this interview?
A Yes.
A continuing series of interviews aimed at breaking down the barriers of mistrust and suspicion between Ukrainian,Russian ladies and the men of the world and helping to promote trust and understanding across the linguistic, cultural and historic divide.
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Online Dating Looks Overseas for Growth
As far back as the Paleolithic era, there have been matchmakers. Primitive man probably exchanged their daughters for a good spear or loin cloth at some point. In the middle ages, families exchanged their daughters for labor, land, goods, and even status.
Some know them by the Yiddish term "Shadchen." And you probably thought the correct term was "Yenta," but it's not (I admit I did too). A Yenta is simply a gossipy woman. In almost every society, a community member set himself or herself up as the person to set up unions.
Enter the Internet. In the late 1990's, online dating began to take market share from the dominant matchmaking tool of the time--newspaper voice personals. The internet could simply do some things better. After all, physical attraction is a big part of the equation and the internet could show a picture, even if the photo was taken ten years or thirty pounds ago.
Today, there are over one thousand internet dating sites in the USA alone. They vary from the highly publicized brands like eHarmony and Match to niche sites like JDate that cater exclusively to Jewish singles--without the Shadchen. Proprieters vary from large companies to entrepreneurial sites run off of entrepreneur's home office laptops.
The internet dating industry rang up $649 million in sales in 2006, and eclipsed $700 million in 2007, according to Juniper Research. Of the 92 million unmarried adult Americans 18 or older, 16 million have tried online dating, according to the Pew Internet and Social Lifestyle Study. That's a lot of clicks, or people hoping to click.
Internet dating has been around since the late 1990's, but it exploded in 2003 with a 77% growth rate. Growth has slowed to 10% recently partly because of competition from the recent phenomenon known as social networking sites. With sites such as Facebook, you can essentially flirt for free. Just like in the Paleolithic era.
In the face of declining growth, online dating brands such as MatchLink, operated by Spark Network Services, are looking overseas for growth. Expanding internationally, however, comes with some cultural challenges. In Japan, for example, it isn't really necessary to ask for hair color, because there really aren't too many blondes. Then, there's cultures like China and India where it's important to adhere to the local traditions.
International expansion is definitely the way to grow the industry. "We've enhanced our offering to include a more international dating database," said Bob Bentz, director of marketing for Spark. "You really need to think global and act local in today's online dating world."
Like with most products, the real jewel for international expansion appears to be China and India. Sixty million internet users are of marrying age in China, according to iResearch, and that market segment alone will grow to 128 million by 2010. Already, 14 million Chinese use online dating, but only 500,000 pay for the service, thus creating a marketplace where advertiser-sponsored services must be the norm.
In India, where up to 90% of all marriages are arranged, local online dating companies are already racking up some impressive numbers. A local site, Shaadi, already boasts having arranged 800,000 marriages. Online dating revenues in India are growing by 50% per year and hit $30 million in 2006.
The growth in China and India prove that when it comes to online dating, love needs no translation.
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