People Skills Lead to Language Skills
I recently met a fellow who manages the local "Dollar Store" (my favorite Toblerone chocolate only .99 cents!) that I found quite interesting. Of Nigerian heritage, he was able to speak fluently not only with English speaking customers, but also Spanish and Portuguese as well. Evidently his language skills made him an ideal candidate for the job he held. Many of the workers he employs are from variety of non-English speaking backgrounds. And, many of his customers here in Phoenix, Arizona are Spanish speaking.
I took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him. I was impressed to learn that this man spoke sixteen languages, with a fluency in six. As my travels in Europe have often reminded me, Americans are generally unique in their ignorance of languages beyond their mother tongue. We do not consider learning a second language a high priority. We expect others to learn English. Sadly, that says much about how we feel about other cultures.
As a web designer, I find it very helpful to study the graphic design influences of other cultures. Doing so makes me a better web designer. However, to really benefit from what other cultures have to offer, I must first respect and value the people of that culture. It is much the same with learning a new language. You must value people to be motivated to learn their language. That was something else I also observed in that Nigerian manager. He had an ease and cheerfulness with people of all sorts. People skills enhance language skills.
I have recently taken the challenge of learning Tagalog, the Phillipino language and, look forward to learning Mandarin Chinese. I admire both cultures and see this as a way to expand friendships and horizons. Life is made so much richer when we widen our hearts to include people of different backgrounds. Making an effort to learn someone's language is a fine expression of hospitality. It shows our interest and respect in their culture and heritage. In turn, such efforts are often warmly rewarded. With the influx of immigrant groups that add so much to the dynamics of our cities, we have a wonderful opportunity to gain friends from far-flung corners of the earth without leaving home!
I took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him. I was impressed to learn that this man spoke sixteen languages, with a fluency in six. As my travels in Europe have often reminded me, Americans are generally unique in their ignorance of languages beyond their mother tongue. We do not consider learning a second language a high priority. We expect others to learn English. Sadly, that says much about how we feel about other cultures.
As a web designer, I find it very helpful to study the graphic design influences of other cultures. Doing so makes me a better web designer. However, to really benefit from what other cultures have to offer, I must first respect and value the people of that culture. It is much the same with learning a new language. You must value people to be motivated to learn their language. That was something else I also observed in that Nigerian manager. He had an ease and cheerfulness with people of all sorts. People skills enhance language skills.
I have recently taken the challenge of learning Tagalog, the Phillipino language and, look forward to learning Mandarin Chinese. I admire both cultures and see this as a way to expand friendships and horizons. Life is made so much richer when we widen our hearts to include people of different backgrounds. Making an effort to learn someone's language is a fine expression of hospitality. It shows our interest and respect in their culture and heritage. In turn, such efforts are often warmly rewarded. With the influx of immigrant groups that add so much to the dynamics of our cities, we have a wonderful opportunity to gain friends from far-flung corners of the earth without leaving home!
Labels: language, web designer
posted by Web Design Portfolio at 12:14 AM
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