Why Learn Foreign Languages?

With technology so advanced these days, do we still need to learn foreign languages? Let me start with the conclusion: language is a tool for thinking. One more language means one more perspective to think from. Therefore, I believe everyone should master at least one foreign language - be it English or any other language that interests you. Let me share my reasoning with you.

1. The Overlooked “Wall”

Every day we browse our phones, read news, and chat with friends, almost always in our native language. This feels natural, right?

But have you considered whether this comfortable “native language world” might also be an invisible wall that traps us?

Since the term “information cocoon” emerged, I’ve realized that our mother tongue is perhaps an even larger “information cocoon.”

From the moment we learn to speak, we grow along that path, naturally thinking and communicating in our native language. This so-called naturalness quietly limits our perspective of the world.

Growing up, the only opportunity to engage with foreign languages was through English classes, but I wonder if others feel like I do: English was just a subject to be tested, not a language to be used - truly sad…

2. The World is Vast

My view on foreign languages has only changed in recent years - or more precisely, my view on Chinese.

I used to think that with 1.4 billion Chinese people making up 18% of the world’s population, plus seeing domestic reports about Confucius Institutes worldwide and Chinatowns in major global cities, I felt proud as a Chinese person, believing Chinese might dominate the world.

Then I saw Wikipedia’s statistics on internet languages and had an awakening. Here’s the data:

I first saw these statistics in 2020 when Chinese ranked tenth at about 1.3%. Five years later, it has dropped to 1.1%.

To be honest, when I first saw these statistics, I was indignant. Surely the foreigners’ statistics must be wrong - with so many Chinese people, wouldn’t our collective data exceed that of several American companies combined?

But after calm reflection, I had no rebuttal. WeChat’s Official Accounts have loads of content, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) is thriving with users, but can search engines find them? Why don’t we tear down these “walled gardens”? I’m left speechless, truly speechless.

3. Learning a Foreign Language: Putting on “3D Glasses”

During the National Day holiday two years ago, I took my daughter to Shanghai to see “The Phantom of the Opera” (entirely in English). She had been longing to see this musical for years. I only decided to take her to the live performance after hearing she had memorized all the lines.

Before going, I worried about my English listening skills - I figured I’d just watch the performers. When we arrived, I was thankful for the subtitle screen, which saved this “illiterate” viewer.

The entire show was impressive. I primarily evaluated it based on the performance, singing ability, and professional level of the actors.

But my daughter’s experience was completely different. Her excitement and the emotions she received from understanding the English - I could see it, but I couldn’t feel it myself.

This reminded me of “3D glasses” - with them, you can see three-dimensional effects; without them, you just see double images. You know there’s value, but you can’t experience it.

4. Language Shapes Thinking

Language isn’t the entirety of thought, but it shapes how we think. In Chinese, time is often imagined as a vertical line flowing from top to bottom.

For example:

• “上周” (last week) - “上” (up) suggests that past time is “above.”
• “下个月” (next month) - “下” (down) points toward the future, as if time moves downward.
• There are broader usages, like “上古时代” (ancient times) and “下个世纪” (next century), all conveying a top-to-bottom imagery.

This relates to our culture.

Think about ancient scrolls, written from top to bottom. Time seems to fall from “heaven” downward.

So in Chinese, the past is “up,” the future is “down” - a vertical order.

This expression has become integrated into our language habits. We don’t usually notice it, but upon closer reflection, it’s quite illustrative.

In English, however, time is more like a horizontal line moving from back to front:

• “Last week” - “last” suggests something at the end or behind, like a position “behind” you on a timeline.
• “Next month” - “next” means “the following one” or “ahead,” like taking a step forward.
• Similarly, phrases like “back in time” (returning to the past) and “looking forward to” (anticipating the future) are concepts of moving back and forth.

This connects to Western cultural perspectives on time. They often imagine time as a person walking on a path, with the past behind and the future ahead.

So “last week” is “the week you’ve walked past behind you,” and “next month” is “the month waiting for you ahead.”

If we translate “last week” as “上周” and “next month” as “下个月,” think about it - doesn’t the English way of thinking get lost?

If we only read Chinese, isn’t our perspective more limited?

How to Learn a Foreign Language

Chinese people emphasize practicality - what we learn must have application, or it’s useless.

This statement is generally true, but it requires detailed analysis. We can’t just focus on whether something is useful or not (the result), but must pay attention to the learning process.

If learning a foreign language is solely for translation into Chinese, that’s certainly insufficient. The expression methods and thought logic of the foreign language are lost, unified into Chinese thinking.

Imagine if Li Bai’s poems were translated into English - wouldn’t their flavor be lost?

When reading foreign materials or reports, remember: don’t translate, don’t translate, don’t translate. Start with the expression methods, then savor the thinking behind the author’s expression. You’ll discover much more richness compared to pure translation.

As Steven Pinker said, language isn’t the entirety of thought, but it is the bridge through which we understand each other and the world.

Learning a foreign language is like putting on 3D glasses - seeing the world more dimensionally. It’s like opening another window, gaining one more perspective to understand this world.

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