5 Reasons to Learn Languages

Whether you are fascinated by another country's culture or considering taking a foreign language for work or school, learning a new language offers lifelong benefits. Technology and globalization provide opportunities to engage with others from around the world like never before. If you have had little exposure to another language, here are five reasons why studying foreign languages may interest you:

1. Learning has never been easier

In the past,to learn a new language one had to take formal classes or find someone willing to offer private lessons or language exchanges. Today, you can learn languages from the comfort of your home thanks to television, software, and the Internet.

2. Gain insight into other cultures

Once you understand the nuance behind a language, you begin to understand its culture. You may read or hear about another country, but fluency opens the door to its people. Comprehension can expose you to foreign books, films, and music -- even your favorite opera. You may also feel more comfortable hosting an exchange student or foreign travelers.

3. Enhance your foreign excursions

Maps and guidebooks point you to tourist attractions, but the locals can help you find the best places off the beaten path. When you can have a conversation in a native language, people are less hesitant to speak with you and more inclined to help you, which may also come in handy during emergencies.

4. Become more valuable at work

Companies are doing more business with international customers, increasing the need for employees with diverse language skills. You may be asked to travel abroad to close a business deal or improve customer relationships. Not only is it a paid trip to a foreign country, it increases your value and could lead to more opportunities in the future. Whether you are translating documents, writing a letter to a foreign customer, or interpreting an important conversation, fluency in another language gives you an edge at work.

5. Keep your mind engaged

Learning a new language requires memorization and repetition to commit new words and phrases to memory. Becoming a student again also reinforces your understanding of your native language. Simple techniques inherent in learning will keep your mind nimble and your skills sharp.

The world has become smaller, and your exposure to foreign languages will continue to increase. You may consider learning languages as a fun hobby or to keep in touch with the changing world around you, but your reward comes when you can connect with other cultures.

Source-http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/5reasons.htm

A Qatar Summer Holiday For Kids

In Qatar, kids enjoy a longer summer season than the rest of the world. There are excellent past times for children that keep them occupied and entertained during the hottest time of the year.

A popular activity is the summer camp, usually ran by schools and offer multi-discipline activities. A variety of camps abound in Qatar that can be perfect for every child’s interest -- dance and ballet, maths, languages, trainings for the mind, sports such as football and swimming, as well as camps that hold mixed activities.

Summer camps are flexible and adaptable to unique needs. Kids can try out their activities for a day to see if it suits their interests, allowing them to take full advantage of what the camp has to offer.

Children can also work on their own personalized projects during the summer break. Having a project  of the week can be a fun way to ward off the boredom.

Starting a garden and growing flowers or vegetables in the yard, or baking their favourite snacks, can prove to be productive as well as enjoyable. Arts and crafts, or learning a new skill, can also be a great, formative way to spend the summer.

Kids should be able know how to swim, and summer is the perfect time to learn. A first aid course can complement that training. Learning a new language can also be fun. Getting advanced training in Arabic classes or obtaining sign language proficiency are just a few skills that can benefit children in the long run.

A number of charity initiatives in Qatar invite kids to help out the community through volunteer activities, as children with special needs could always use an extra helping hand. Pet organisations invite volunteers to walk abandoned dogs, an activity that is sure to foster an appreciation for animals.

Exercising and keeping active is a good way to combat the temptation to spend the entire break on the couch. Early morning before the day gets too hot, or just as the sun is about to set, are the ideal times for an outdoor workout. Indoor exercise can also be fun with exercise videos or a games console.

It’s the perfect time to get social. Kids love to see their friends for extended play hours and having them over to play games and share their toys. This makes them less fidgety during the summer months, in addition to fostering social interaction and expanding their life skills.

Finally, summer vacations are always a fail safe way to make the warmest months worthwhile. A trip to nearby travel hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Oman only takes a short flight.

A combination of these fun and exciting activities are more than enough to keep children occupied and enable them to learn a thing or two, making even the leisure times worthwhile.