Sometimes I wonder just how necessary it really is to learn another language.
It's often a requirement in schools. I hear people always give the advice 'Well, you should learn another language'. But in reality, what comes of it? Does it do more than enhance your ability to communicate with others? Does it make you smarter?
I hate to admit it, but I don't think it does. The smartest people I know (including my grandfather) know more than one language, but I don't think it is an effect. A cause, maybe, but I don't think learning more languages is what made them smarter. You get more knowledge technically (the knowledge that comes with speaking), but what else does it do for you? I wish this was something I knew more about, but I guess that too will come in time.
When my linguistics instructor tells us about something he told his Korean wife, I am both inspired by his ability to speak Korean so well, and I am so happy to understand him.
I am proud to be able to read something to someone that's written in Japanese.
I am satisfied to be able to help someone who asks me a question is Spanish.
I am glad to be able to travel to various countries and Europe and ask questions /and/ answer them.
Sure, you could go through life without knowing any other language than the one you speak. There are thousands of languages I myself will never learn. When you know only one language, I have concluded that you are only losing that ability to communicate with another group of people, and that's it.
But it sure does make you feel a heck of a lot smarter.
First, you start off on a neg note saying derogatory things about learning another language, then you praise it?
props to you for learning spanish and japanese! and korean?