Yearning for Learning? Take Up a Language

In this series, professionals share what they'd do differently — and keep the same. Follow the stories here and write your own (please use #IfIWere22 in your post).

Last week I shared my thoughts on the importance of continuing studies, even after university. I believe it is critical to continue studying every day. You must learn something new every day. It keeps you sharp and on the path toward success.

A reader asked me, “What should I study?” My response: Language!

Language instruction is part of education. This is true for curricula all over the world. But it’s only in the traditional school years that language is required. By university, most language requirements are fewer. After graduation, language is likely completely off your study list.

Studying a new language can be a huge benefit to an individual at that age. In fact, we have a core program at Rakuten to teach all employees English. I call it Englishnization. It is so successful that The Wall Street Journal writes about it. Harvard Business School has an ongoing case study on our Englishnization program and even covered it in Harvard Business Review. The case study is being taught in 87 business schools around the world. It’s even taken off in other companies.

• It builds global skills. Companies today expect their employees to do business not just in their home country but also across borders. Employees with language skills are prized for their ability to build connections with global partners.
• You’ll have access to new ideas. When you know another language, you can experience the media of another culture more fully. I believe everyone should set time aside to look at foreign media. Even if you aren’t very skilled at the language in which the paper or magazine is written, reading through it anyways -- with a dictionary at hand -- will give you new insights.
• It improves our global community world. Many of us would like to leave this world a better place than we found it. I know it is one of my goals. One way to do this is to look for ways to make connections and improve relationships with people. When you learn a new language, you reach out to the native speakers of that language. You make a connection to them and by doing that you are helping to erase the national borders that divide us.

Be creative in your language choice. I have studied English and encouraged everyone in my company to do so as well. I have studied Chinese. I have even considered the study of computer languages to be relevant and beneficial (some call this language study Code-ish.)  Graduation is not the time to leave off the study of language; it is an opportunity to start the process anew.