If Mandarin gets more young people excited about languages in school, fantastic; let's ride that wave. But let’s also stop treating Latin as a museum piece. Beyond the declensions lies a powerhouse for vocabulary, critical thinking and cultural literacy. All school languages shape modern minds.

In a world where understanding matters more than ever, learning another language is far more important than remembering vocabulary and grammar. It's about seeing another point of view, making new connections and embracing difference. It's a bunch of skills that makes you better at whatever you do.

I didn’t learn languages just to collect certificates. I learned them for the friendships, the (mis)adventures, the roadside chats, the shared meals, the families, the feeling of belonging somewhere unexpected. Every new language throws open the door to a life you wouldn’t otherwise live.

You never learn just one language, once you start. French unassumingly led me to Catalan and Romanian. German unlocked Dutch and Swedish. Spanish opened the way to Italian and Portuguese. One language always nudges you towards another. Start anywhere. You don’t need to be a “linguist” to go far.

Each time you learn a new language, you discover a tiny bit more of the world. You meet another people on their terms. You experience moments you never knew you were missing. You realise that your worldview is just one of many. You get the chance to live a fuller and richer life.

In the age of AI, school languages matter more than ever. Algorithms can process words, but only humans convey meaning: empathy, judgement, culture, lived experience. Learning languages at school builds the cultural intelligence and human connections that real meaning depends on.

Languages stretch your horizons in ways you don’t expect. Mandarin presented me with an entirely different worldview. Basque fascinated me as a living pre-Indo-European language. Icelandic still speaks to its medieval past. Each one reminds me how vast, deep and connected our world really is.

School French, German & Spanish can change your life. Not through textbooks, but by opening a window onto other ways of thinking, living & connecting. That early curiosity can carry you across borders, into friendships, careers & worlds you never planned for. albarolanguages.com/2026/01/24/a...

The world makes more sense when you can speak another language, when you can temper your views to meet another culture head-on. Another language opens up the other side of the argument. Another language conveys respect and friendship, in a world that sorely needs more of both.

If it weren't for the spark lit by school French, Spanish and German, I'd never have learned Albanian, Farsi and Mandarin. I'd never have experienced the opportunities and cultural revelations those languages provide. A new language will transform your world, and unlock door after door.

Translation will never just be about words. It’s about context, connection, care and consequence. In a world rushing towards speed and scale, human translators will always be those who genuinely convey meaning, and the responsibility that comes with it. albarolanguages.com/2026/01/09/w...

Learn a new language and the world widens. You borrow other people’s senses, scale new mountains of thought, hear music differently, feel life more deeply, taste culture, earn trust, build friendships you never knew you were missing. Whatever your gift, a language takes it further.

One of the great things about learning another language at school is that passing an exam is not the be all and end all. Regardless, it will open your mind, connect you with new people, pique your curiosity, introduce you to new cultures, and elevate your experiences. We all benefit.

As one year ends and a new one begins, consider this: learning a new language isn’t just another resolution - it’s a portal to another world. Step through it, and the people you meet, the places you visit, the life you live will quietly reshape themselves around you.

Why learn another language? To glimpse life through other eyes, widen your world, and encounter ways of thinking you’d otherwise miss. Languages spark connections across careers, cultures and lives - not as an extra, but as an upgrade in life. You can level up with a language.

Another language opens another world: smiles offered freely, doors quietly unlocked, people you didn’t know you were waiting to meet. It leads you far beyond the classroom or textbook, to histories, cultures, moments and exchanges that gently widen your sense of what’s possible.

Your school French is far more than another subject. It's your advantage in multiple careers, your gateway to richer experiences, your introduction to Spanish, German, Arabic, Chinese and many more, your multicultural awakening. It transforms your entire interaction with a world beyond your own.

People sometimes ask why I bother with other languages when “everyone speaks English.” But the truth is, millions don’t. And even when they do, their hearts beat in their own words. Learn a language (or two), and you’ll find doors opening to deeper interactions and genuine human connection.

On Romania’s National Day, why not let Romanian surprise you? It’s a Romance gem with French echoes, Spanish and Italian cousins, Slavic twists and a culture just as colourful. If you fancy Romance with a spark of the unexpected, today could be the day to begin. albarolanguages.com/2024/01/24/r...

Who’d have thought that your school French, German or Spanish would lead to unique opportunities, enhanced experiences and broader perspectives? Those vocab lists and set phrases open doors. Chinese and Arabic become new options. Languages exceed your expectations and take you to new destinations.

Linguistics hooked me from a library shelf and never let go. It’s the science that reveals how language shapes thought, culture and connection. Add it to the curriculum & you give students a toolkit for thinking & communicating more deeply. #NationalLinguisticsDay albarolanguages.com/2024/06/01/e...

From French and Spanish to Albanian and Farsi, languages have opened doors for me, grown understanding and taught me to see the world in full colour. Cutting them from schools and universities doesn’t just shrink the curriculum, it shrinks the life choices that all students should enjoy.

When you learn French at school, you're not just learning a language. You're learning a different way to engage with humanity. You'll find learning Spanish and German easier. Even Chinese and Arabic are accessible. It's your first step on a voyage across the world, through history & beyond borders.

Another language is for you if you’ve ever felt the world has more to say than the words you already know; if you’re hungry for perspectives that surprise you, connections that move you, and stories that reshape you. Say yes to the unfamiliar. Let a language take you on new adventures.

From the streets of Brussels to cafés in Bragança, plazas in Murcia to bars in Pristina, every language I’ve learned has opened a new world, a new way of seeing and belonging. University language departments provide a major key to those worlds. Let’s keep as many doors open as possible.

Languages are about people, connections and relationships. They're about experiences, transformation and growth. Any language you learn is a new chapter, whether you come to it in school or abroad. And any new language you learn is another piece of the world, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

Every language is a gateway. Through languages, science, art, law, music, history, drama, sport - and just about all human endeavour - speak to you in new ways and light up new paths. Languages expand the mind, deepen empathy, and make the world closer, richer, brighter. That’s why languages matter.

Languages are not just another subject in school. Languages are about relationships, understanding and communication. They're about discovering a world beyond your own. They're full-on experiences you wouldn't enjoy otherwise. Languages take every one of us to another level.

If you can do French, you can elevate your English vocabulary. If you can do German, you understand more of English grammar. If you can do Latin, you can recognise so many new words and expressions. If you can do languages, not only do you discover the world, but you discover your own language too.

Every time a language is dropped, we rob future generations of opportunities. We close off pathways to new ideas, deeper connections and a richer understanding of the world. Every student deserves the chance to open those doors. Languages aren't a luxury. They're a gateway to broader horizons.

Learning another language matters. Not just because it opens your mind to other ways of life and other people's outlooks on the world, but because it creates new connections, opens doors you didn't even know were there, and celebrates humanity. Another language is another life.

A year abroad isn’t just part of a language degree. It's when language becomes real. It teaches you how to belong somewhere new. You go abroad to study a language, but you end up living it. And once you’ve lived in another language, it never truly leaves you. albarolanguages.com/2025/10/24/t...

Languages aren’t about perfection. They’re about reaching out, being understood, and understanding in return. Confuse your genders, forget your subjunctive - it doesn’t matter. You’ve already opened a door to another world. You'll fill in the gaps in time; connection comes first.

Your school French is just the beginning. It's the start of a lifetime of adventure, creativity and stories you never knew you'd tell. It's your invitation to German, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin and beyond. It's a whole world of curiosity, humanity and discovery. The outcomes are yours to craft.

If you’re lucky enough to learn a language at school, take it. It might take you on exchanges to France, Germany and Spain, a year abroad, student adventures, fun times. You might interpret Albanian in Kosovo, teach Romanian, work with Farsi and Chinese - and discover a whole new life along the way.

I'm proud to be described as a 'linguist', because that means that I'm curious about other cultures, welcoming of other traditions, eager to discover more of the world, open to diverse perspectives, excited about new experiences. There's a whole lot more to linguists than vocab and grammar.

Another language is not just a language. It’s a window on other peoples, cultures and beliefs. It cuts through conflicts and controversies. It brings people together and settles arguments. Another language is understanding, solidarity and friendship. Languages are powerful.

One of the (many) great things about learning another language is the joy of being understood. Then comes the new relationship with the world, the spark that lights up another culture, the thrill of speaking that first sentence. Suddenly the life around you feels alive, vibrant, full of possibility.

Translation is no mere transfer of words. It’s the art of conveying messages across borders. Every day, in multiple fields, I experience how human translators weave connection, culture and meaning. On #InternationalTranslationDay, we honour the craft that brings people together.

Europe’s languages are bridges - linking past and future, neighbours and continents. Each tongue opens doors to others: Spanish to Catalan, Galician and Basque; German to Dutch and Frisian; French to Romanian and beyond. On #EuropeanDayofLanguages, celebrate connection through diversity.

To speak another language is to expand your horizon. It reshapes how you sense the world, deepens how you connect with others, and transforms how you live. It opens doors to ideas and ways of being you’d never have imagined. That’s why languages matter to us all, wherever your journey leads.

Languages aren’t just school subjects - they’re keys to connection. Portuguese got me breakfast first in Cascais, Spanish saved a New York taxi fare, and Albanian made me feel local in Pristina. A language creates opportunities and leads to unanticipated moments. albarolanguages.com/2022/08/07/w...

Languages aren’t a luxury. They’re how we learn to listen, experience, and see the world in all its diversity and complexity. Every student should have that opportunity. Languages are essential to the curriculum, because they connect us to people, stories and perspectives we can’t afford to lose.

There are almost 7,000 languages in the world. At least one of them could be your next adventure, your next opportunity, your next connection. That's nearly 7,000 ways to shape your world view and celebrate humanity. There's something for everyone, whatever your motivation and however you start.

Languages feed into every subject in school, and make every subject broader and more universally applicable. Another language is not one subject; it's a piece of every field of human knowledge. It's history, geography, maths and science through a different lens. It's a transformative experience.

What can you do with languages? Open doors to new worlds. Broker peace or strike deals. Bring stories, science and sport to every corner of the globe. See history through fresh eyes. Turn strangers into friends. Connect, persuade, inspire. The better question? What can’t you do with languages?

Every language I’ve learned has opened a door I didn’t know was there - to friendships, impromptu chats, late-night laughter and unexpected belonging. Because sometimes, speaking a few words in someone else’s language can change the story of your life. albarolanguages.com/2025/09/01/o...

If you know some French, why not give Romanian a try? Not only is Bucharest known as 'Little Paris', but Romanian words like 'om, creion, machiaj & sondaj' are familiar to learners of French. What better way to celebrate Romanian on #RomanianLanguageDay! albarolanguages.com/2024/01/24/r...

If ti vuls discurrer a language but nu înțelegi all the right woorden, you still یاد خواهی گرفت a lot by dizer what you can 说出, even if es scheint dir tre malfacila. Soon, your jezik will lacharol and jy kan fill in the gaps. Languages are all about communication and connection.

Learn another language and you really see other people. You find common ground. You make human connections. You enjoy new experiences. You celebrate difference. You step out of your bubble. All your senses are heightened. Learn another language, and you're a citizen of the world.