Foreign Language Learning vs Translation Apps
As globalization was made way for by restricted and protected economies and societies, corners of the world came increasingly closer. Economy, trade, commerce, food supplies, technology, innovations, discoveries, everything came to be exchanged and shared among nations, cultures, and societies for bringing about rapid growth, progress, and development.
Hence the importance of learning other countries’ language has become paramount, in this article, we will discuss whether you really need to learn a foreign language or depend on an Application to do your job.
Need of learning a language
As multinational companies began employing manpower from around the world, people seeking jobs in such companies realized that they needed to learn foreign languages to secure better positions. As the education sector spread its wings far and wide, students began realizing their dreams of higher education in universities and institutes based in foreign countries. They began opting for foreign languages as subjects in their schools and colleges themselves to start learning at an early age. This trend gave rise to a number of coaching classes and language training institutes that train students in foreign languages, and prepare them for foreign language proficiency tests. Earlier these institutes or coaching classes used only offline mode for teaching, which would mean teaching languages in conventional, physical classrooms.
Today, these language training institutes have taken the form of ed-tech platforms that facilitate learning through apps and online classes. The pattern of learning languages online has a great demand these days, as people hardly find time to commute to attend physical classroom training. Moreover, the ability to learn a new language from the safety and comfort of one’s own premises is an additional advantage of online learning sessions.
Foreign languages are generally taught by means of audio-visual learning sessions, wherein a student and an instructor can see each on-screen and also hear each other, thereby indulging in real-time communication or interaction. A student can hear the teacher speak a word slowly and clearly, and watch and note his or her facial movements while he or she pronounces a syllable or word. This helps a student to learn to comprehend and to speak a new language quickly. The other two parameters of language learning, namely, reading and writing come along when written notes are shared with the student, and are discussed during the sessions.
Some are of the opinion that foreign language learning will soon become obsolete with new translation apps and tools coming up every day. They feel if one gets all the data translated by auto-translate tools, there shall be no need to spend one’s valuable time and hard-earned money in learning new languages.
Or
Thinking that you can drive any vehicle just because you know the basic traffic rules?
Yes, we mean what we just said!
One cannot know the nitty-gritty of a language or its grammar just by getting a short piece of text or content translated using an auto-translate tool or app. If there are exceptions to a grammar rule, or there is a need to make changes in a sentence depending upon the number and gender of a noun or pronoun, these minute details might be left out by auto-translation apps leading to grave mistakes, thus bringing embarrassment to the translator, or the advertiser, marketing strategist, or even to a business house.
Such kind mistakes can be avoided by taking proper, systematic, and detailed education of a foreign language. One may be able to do without much knowledge of a language if one is just to convey an idea or message informally without the need for perfection. One may, however, be in trouble if the message conveyed goes wrong or is taken as an offense by people belonging to other linguistic and/or cultural backgrounds.
People working in the fields or departments of advertising, marketing, international trade, education, literature, etc. cannot afford to make such mistakes and bring embarrassment and disrepute to their organizations, companies, or institutes. For the same reason, candidates having proper diplomas, degrees, or certificates of foreign language proficiency tests are given preference to occupy these positions or roles. An urge to save little time by using short-cuts can lead to big losses and bring disrepute to a unit.
Translation apps do not get you the following roles, but if you learn a foreign language thoroughly, and are fluent in it, you can be a preferred candidate for them:
- Translator
- Transcriber
- Writer / editor
- Proofreader
- Media broadcaster
- Foreign language instructor
- Professor
- Education exchange programmes administrator/ manager / volunteer
- Foreign diplomat for government
- Foreign delegate for a multinational company
- Defense personnel deployed in a foreign territory or defense spokesperson, etc.
Does this, but, not sound like reviewing a movie just after watching its trailer?
As we saw that learning a language is of more value and importance than relying on technology
If you wish to learn any language right from the basics or even its advanced level, Multibhashi Language Learning Sessions are an excellent solution.
If you are willing to learn a new language or even wish to try this source of knowledge!
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