Can learning a second language boost your career?

Language is one of the most powerful tools we have. No matter which language we speak – and there are more than 7000 – our language plays a central role in how we express ourselves and communicate with those around us.  

So, it makes sense that speaking a second language could not only improve our communication but also boost our social standing – and maybe even take our careers to new heights! 

We reached out to Associate Professor Rod Neilsen, a senior lecturer in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), to chat about the potential benefits of learning a second language and what it takes to do so. 

What is second language learning? 

Before we dive into learning a second language, we need a first. The biggest difference between the two (besides the order in which we acquire them) is found in second language learning methods. By the time we learn a language for the second time, says Assoc. Prof. Neilsen, our approach has changed dramatically.  

‘No one is conscious of learning to speak their first language – it just develops through the social environment, though we consciously learn to write it,’ says Neilsen. ‘When learning a second language we already have a language and know what language is, and we use that knowledge to learn other languages.’ 

How many people in Australia learn a second language?  

Australia is a strong multicultural nation – a melting pot of an increasingly-diverse blend of cultures, religions and, of course, languages. While English remains the most widely spoken language in Australia, the 2021 census records some 22.3% of Australians as speaking a language other than English at home, with Mandarin (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%) and Vietnamese (1.3%) the most common languages other than English. 

The benefits of learning a second language 

In Australia alone, people speak a whopping 490 languages. While Neilsen notes that English is the best second language to learn for a career boost (since ‘English is the global language,’) mastering a language other than English could be a path to success, too.   

‘I think there are still significant opportunities for English-speakers learning other languages too, given the global interconnection of commerce,’ he says. ‘It depends which language. Knowing Chinese or other major world languages is likely to enhance career prospects in commerce or business. Knowing other languages is useful in the tourism industry.’ 

The cognitive benefits of second language learning 

On top of career perks, there’s growing evidence of cognitive benefits of learning a second language – everything from fighting dementia to increasing academic aptitude. ‘Plenty of research has shown that there are cognitive advantages to learning languages,’ Neilsen says. ‘Young people who learn additional languages often perform better in other academic areas, too.’ 

The social benefits of second language learning 

Language is inherently social – it’s how we communicate. Whether it’s spoken or written, language opens up new ways to interact with those around us, letting us function effectively in society. Learning a language beyond our primary one, says Neilsen, opens even greater social opportunities – something he has seen firsthand. 

‘Socially, [learning another language] obviously means people have access to speakers of that language, online or in-person, and access to another culture,’ says Neilsen. ‘Many English speakers who make an effort to speak the language of the country they are visiting would attest to positive experiences with locals. I speak Spanish also, and it was a huge social advantage when I was living and working in South America.’ 

Does learning a second language affect your first language? 

If you’ve ever learned a second language, you might have noticed some funny little quirks – like mixing up words or sentences between your mother tongue and second language.  

If so, you’re not alone; some speakers do experience ‘interference’ from their second language to the first – such as changes to phonology and sentence structure – though this is typically minor. 

‘After three years in South America I returned to the UK and sometimes struggled to re-translate a word or phrase from Spanish to English, especially if the word was tied to a concept which doesn’t translate neatly into one word in English,’ says Neilsen. ‘But the effect is short-lived – you don’t forget your first language, especially if you are exposed to it regularly.’ 

Age and second language learning: what you need to know 

Does age play a role in learning a language? According to the experts, it does.  

‘In most cases it is easier for younger people (pre-adolescent) to learn an additional language in a more naturalistic way, given sufficient exposure to the language,’ says Neilsen. ‘Adults tend to have to learn with conscious application (study), although there are many cases of successful adult learners too.’  

In fact, children seem to have a serious advantage over adults when it comes to learning a language, with one study suggesting that starting to learn a language by the age of 10 is the best path to speaking with native-like proficiency. 

The best way to learn a second language (as told by the experts) 

While there is no singular ‘best’ way to learn a learn a second language, experts agree on a few key techniques and approaches.  

Second language learning: the methods 

The most accepted method in recent decades, says Neilsen, is the ‘communicative’ approach. 

‘It’s not a method per se, but it encompasses the principle that you learn a language by using it, as opposed to learning grammar rules and vocabulary lists,’ he says. ‘In this approach, teachers prepare students with the language they need to accomplish certain tasks, using role play activities to simulate interactions in shops, or asking for directions for example.’ 

With this in mind, Neilsen says that effectively learning a language can come down to regularly hearing and speaking it in context.  

‘There is consensus that exposure is crucial – the amount of time spent being exposed to the language formally and informally, outside the classroom,’ he says. ‘It’s difficult to beat going to a country where the language is spoken for a time and actively participating in the society – seeking opportunities to interact with native speakers.’ 

Factors affecting how successfully you may be in learning a second language 

Everyone learns at their own pace, and there are a multitude of factors affecting second language learning. These factors include our age, gender (in that language learning has, in the past, been seen as ‘feminine’ and taught as such), motivation, aptitude and exposure to the language.  

Ultimately, the more consistent effort and practice you put in, the more likely you are to succeed – so don’t be afraid to take the plunge and embrace the second language learning process.