Diving head first into a new culture does not guarantee ease and comfort, but it does offer something much better: a chance for growth beyond knowledge that will facilitate mindfulness and humility that cannot be shaken. So, what are you waiting for? Conquer the challenges and reap the benefits of language study in Canada!

It’s safe. With an apologetic reputation, Canada continues to top the charts as one of the safest countries in the world. Just watch out for rogue moose!

Cultural Immersion. To educate literally means to lead out, to lead out of confinement, narrowness, darkness, and comfort. Learning a foreign language without leaving the comfort of your home country and culture presents an obstacle of narrowness that can only be hurdled by total immersion of a culture. To be completely fluent in a foreign language you need a total understanding of the culture and nonverbal communication, instead of just filling up and facts and translations. Communication is a two way street and listening is perhaps the road less traveled. Reel in your eagerness to practice your new speaking skills and take the time to listen and observe how the natives interact and engage with one another during language courses in Canada.

Career advantage. With universal unemployment problems, multilingual abilities have become an unquestionable competitive edge over competing applicants. Language abilities tell of a person’s intelligence, flexibility, openness, and decision-making skills. When an interviewer sees that you learned a new language smack dab in the middle of the culture where it originates, you will undoubtedly set the bar high for all other candidates (P.S. Take advantage of any networking opportunities. Canadians don’t have beef with anybody so they make great references!).

Don’t use English as a crutch. Resist the temptation to revert back to your mother tongue when you’re in a pinch. Pushing through tough situations will produce a whole new learning environment that can’t be replicated in a classroom. Don’t shortchange yourself!

Studying a foreign language abroad teaches and encourages respect for other people, and fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature. Learn a language abroad and join the fight to break down the barriers of distrust and fear. The tolerance and flexibility you gain from this experience will undeniably shine for others to see. Words have the power to speak life. Being able to speak the same words in more than one language creates space for not only changing your worldview, but changing the world.