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Why languages? | Language Center

Why languages?

Contact Us

HUJI Language Center
Faculty of Humanities
Section 8, 5th floor

Main Office
languagehu@savion.huji.ac.il
+972.2.5882771

Safot@HUJI Office
languages@mail.huji.ac.il
+972.2.5881984

There are many wonderful reasons to acquire additional languages: broadening one's horizons, for academic purposes, toward employability, to foster empathy and engage in peace-building, to exercise the mind, for travel and recreation purposes, and more.

And here are a few more reasons the Hebrew University Language Center underscores:

Internationalization – English is clearly imperative to today's global reality; and yet, as recommended by the European Council and many other distinguished constituents, one should learn at least two foreign languages for reasons of personal, professional  and social development. Clearly the ability to communicate in Chinese or in French, in addition to English, opens many doors. Israel currently lags behind most OECD countries in providing its citizens with a rich linguistic portfolio: "In our globalised world, language competencies are increasingly important. It is no longer an advantage for a job seeker to speak just one non-native language (NNL)." http://www.oecd.org/berlin/50191762.pdf

Students of the Hebrew University can gain a strong competitive advantage by acquiring at least one additional foreign language alongside perfecting their communicative competence in English.

Insider perspective – technology currently allows us to effortlessly translate pragmatic everyday information for immediate use. Yet when it comes to academic research and intercultural exchange no shortcut allows one to fully recognize nuance; to be able to read between the lines; to gain a deep understanding of the masterpieces of the target culture and the minds of their creators; or to gain a sense of closeness or belonging to the target culture. 

The process – while outcomes, in the form of actual know-how, are the ultimate goal, the process of acquiring a language is both challenging and enjoyable, making for a meaningful and memorable experience. As a language learner, you will meet many peers from diverse backgrounds you may not meet in other contexts, face new cognitive and emotional challenges, learn new things about yourself both as a learner of language(s) and as a learner in general, and enjoy many a-ha moments.