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The Importance of Learning the Local Language in Europe for Filipino Expat Workers

The Importance of Learning the Local Language in Europe for Filipino Expat Workers

02 Feb 2023


Europe is home to nearly 24 million foreigners, most of whom are overseas workers seeking better employment or students acquiring advanced education. Multiple languages are spoken in culturally rich countries, similarly Europe has more than 24 official languages, with English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German as the most commonly spoken languages. Like people from several other nations, almost 368,000 Filipino expats live in Europe and the majority of these expatriates are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). They earn and send money to Philippines to ensure better financial support for their families back home.

 

Language is the major element for facilitating communication and self-expression in any society. Learning one or more local languages in Europe for Filipino expats may be quite advantageous in many ways. Let’s look at how important it is to learn at least the basics of a local language in Europe. 

 

Importance of Learning the Local Language in Europe

Here are some important factors that demand expatriates in Europe to get at least a basic level knowledge of the local languages.

 

Using Language as an Economic Factor

Four basic concepts form the foundation of understanding language as an economic variable. The economic well-being of a society is improved when its members can communicate with one another in a single language, first reflecting the communicative virtues of language.

 

For instance, most production-related tasks demand collaboration and the ability to comprehend written and vocal instructions. A common language that allows buyers and sellers to communicate with one another facilitates consumption activities. On the other hand, communication in languages that not everyone can comprehend tends to slow down economic activity.

Local Language for Communication with People around You

The choice of language for communication is also influenced by the relationship between language and cultural identity, which is the second factor. When taken to its logical conclusion, the argument for the communicative value of languages would suggest that it would be preferable for all people to speak a single language.

 

This has not occurred, in part because the world has not yet been fully globalised. After all, many civilisations respect their original language since it gives them a sense of identity being passed down from their ancestors. Particularly, linguistics play a significant role in getting various consumer items, such as music, novels, and television shows. Therefore, culture and language are intertwined. If you need to make a quick money transfer to Philippines from Europe while you don’t know many options, learning the local language can help you interact with natives and find the correct solution.

Language as Other Useful Abilities

Third, language may be cultivated in the same manner as other useful abilities. It adds to human capital. By learning new languages at school, having conversations with others, and other means, people can develop or improve their language abilities. Many people, especially those who are members of linguistic minorities, study other languages to improve their communication skills and, in turn, increase their productivity and income.

 

People frequently decide on a language to learn based on its potential for financial gain. Like all investments in human capital, language learning includes opportunity costs. Learning a new language takes time and resources that could have been used for other things.

 

Primarily Instrument of Communication

Fourth, allowing people to follow their language learning goals may not produce the best results because a language's benefits rely on how many others use it. If people solely consider their own interests, there is an externality in language usage that is ignored.

 

The natural tendency is to converge toward the effective consequence of utilising a single language when language is seen primarily as an instrument of communication. Some people may place a great value on their cultural identity as group members, which is partly represented in their original language. Yet, they may still choose to convert to the language with the highest economic value.

 

Before Studying or Working in Some European Country, Should Filipino Expats Learn the Local Language?

Admissions season is almost here, and many Filipino students study abroad to experience different places, people, and cultures. France, Spain, and Germany are three of the best places to study abroad since each of these nations has its own original language. Learning a new language is essential for experiencing a novel and distinctive culture. However, why not take a few minutes each day to brush up on the fundamentals of the local language used in the nation where you intend to further your studies?

 

To better comprehend the town or country and to go around the local places around your trip, Filipino students or workers might merely learn a few fundamentals. Before enrolling in a program of study, there are several reasons to learn the local tongue. Among them are:

  • If you speak their language, locals will treat you kindly.
  • You might engage in brief yet engaging talks with others.
  • You can read signage throughout the area or in your place of business.
  • You become used to and develop an appreciation for the local culture.
  • Even in the most difficult circumstances, you can communicate clearly.
  • If you're interested, you might pursue a language profession.

If you work full time as an overseas worker or part-time as a student, you just need a reliable and trusted service to transfer funds. If you don’t know a local language in Europe and can’t ask people around you for help, you can still solve your concern. One of the most trusted remittance solutions, ACE Money Transfer, is there to help you make an economical and secure online money transfer to Philippines from Europe at any time your family back home needs help.

 

Learning the Local Language of the Region has Five Benefits.

The following are the top 5 reasons to learn the local language for overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or students before beginning their study or work abroad experience:

 

Life May be Made Simpler by Learning the Local Language for Filipinos.

After learning the language, they will be able to handle daily tasks and routines in the nation. Learning the language might also make their life easier in several ways. Consider all the routine little things they do, such as finding their way, getting and providing directions, or taking public transportation. Those commonplace interactions might be a little more challenging if they are in a new language. You might not comprehend a cashier when they ask, "Did you able to find everything all right?"

 

The Best Way to Experience a Culture is Through its Language.

Indistinguishability between language and culture has also been noted, and their interrelationship is quite complex. Language includes unique cultural values, societal systems, and cognitive processes in addition to the real measurement of words, linguistic concepts, and sentence construction. As you discover the origin stories of a language, you get to comprehend a nation's objectives. At that point, society begins to comprehend you. While you may read about, listen to, and think about a culture, the greatest way to grasp it truly is by hearing its native tongue.

 

Choosing to Learn a New Language is a Practical Choice

Learning a foreign language benefits the human brain in a number of ways. French, German, and Spanish are the finest foreign languages to study. It improves the ability to remember things, think creatively, and solve difficulties. It has also been demonstrated that studying a foreign language improves cognitive abilities and prevents dementia as you age. In the business sector, acquiring a foreign language is also advantageous. In today's quickly globalising company world, your commercial viability increases the more languages you speak. Possessing language abilities can help potential employers choose you.

 

Interacting with Native Speakers Will Be Made Easier If You Learn a New Language Always

If you know the language of the country where you studied abroad, and people from there come to visit, or you go somewhere else, you can always strike up a conversation in that language with the speakers, even after you have finished your course at an institution abroad and returned to your home country. Speaking a language that is widely spoken, like Spanish or French, can enable you to apply the information you have gained in one country to another where the native language is spoken.

 

For instance, imagine that you studied abroad in Germany and picked up the language there. Now imagine that you have returned and come across a German who is having trouble speaking your language. You may always provide a hand to him. You may easily make friends with thousands of individuals all around the country as a speaker of another native tongue. Your ability to communicate with people throughout the world will increase as you grow more competent in this language!

 

Learning a New Language Makes It Easier to Make Friends

The world is full of incredible individuals. However, it's doubtful that many of these people are fluent in English. You can boost your chances of meeting dozens of new people if you have the communication abilities needed for everyday engagement! People see every day who speak the native tongue have the potential to become your future business partners, best friends, or soul mates.

 

You may better comprehend the locals' lives, interests, and goals by learning how to communicate with them. You can also see how much they have changed through time. You start to see that these people are much more than just stereotypes. They are people with stories.

 

Overseas Filipino Workers - A Major Help in Balancing the Philippines’s Foreign Exchange Reserves

 

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), commonly known as migrant workers from the Philippines, make up around 3.33 per cent of the country's labour force. 2.33 million OFWs were engaged between April and September 2017 in various areas of the world, with 85% of them under contract in Asian nations and the other 14% spread across Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Africa.

 

Most OFWs work as domestic servants, manufacturing and construction labourers, artisans and workers in allied trades, service and sales personnel, secretarial support personnel, technicians and associate professionals, professionals, and managers. They are recognised as the nation's modern heroes because of their tremendous economic contribution to the Philippines. However, stories of struggles with numerous obstacles and problems ingrained in their new surroundings lie behind this acknowledgement.

 

Social and cultural adaptation is one of the difficulties that Filipino migrant workers face. This involves challenges with integrating into the local culture of their host nation and communicating at work, in schools, stores, banks, restaurants, hospitals, governmental offices, and many other crucial institutions using the local language. 


"Most OFWs lack the appropriate linguistic background or degree of skill in the local language of their host nation prior to relocation or deployment, which causes them to struggle with language barriers that negatively impact their ability to socialise, perform their jobs, and live a high-quality life.” Join ACE Family to keep learning about more important tips to make your life easier abroad and to send money to Philippines online at the highest exchange rates yet at the lowest transfer costs.


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