Speak a Language and Enhance Your Career
By Joaquín Santiponce – Updated August 2026
Many young people who are in school and, indeed, many who have finished school and have gone on to the labour market do not know what they are missing by not adding one or more foreign languages to the course they have studied in school. It cannot be over-emphasised how important and advantageous the knowledge of foreign languages is in the employment office. Whether one is an accountant, a cleaner, a doctor, an engineer, a pilot, a teacher or a zoo keeper, the knowledge of foreign languages makes one’s job much more valuable and enjoyable.
Antonio and Alvaro, two Spanish friends who attended the same secondary school and who both read civil engineering in the University, attended a job interview together at the office of a multinational construction company. Both of them were equally brilliant, had the same degree and equal job experience, but the construction company had just won a big contract in Nigeria and needed road engineers who must speak English.
One of the two friends had taken his English lessons serious at school while the other was completely disinterested and was even making fun of his friend whenever he came out of the English class. Now, many years later, both of them meet at this interview. Guess who of the two friends got this lucrative overseas job. The guy who spoke English, of course.
Whether you are a student, a civil servant or a company executive, start now to think of learning one foreign language. You will be pleasantly surprised at your linguistic talent when you start speaking the new language. When you are fluent in one, start another, then another, then another. My friend, you will not believe the new world in which you are by the time you are a speaker of, say, five languages. Chances are, you will abandon your profession and live by the practice of languages full time. This is the advice of personal experience.
And do not say you do not have the time. The truth is, you do! So, go start those lessons now and see how exhilarating multilingualism can be. Good luck.