As the world grows smaller and smaller with each passing year, it can be difficult to realize the importance of studying a foreign language. If the entire world can speak English, then why should someone waste their time trying to memorize an entirely new lexicon and complex sentence structures when just about anyone whom they will meet is able to sufficiently communicate with them in their own native tongue?
The best and most obvious benefit to learning a foreign language simply is being able to communicate with an entirely new group of people. Even though most the people around you can speak your language doesn't mean that everyone can. For instance, if you travel to a foreign country on vacation, and you are able to speak the language, you are going to have a much better time than if you have to rely on the word of travel books and tour guides. If you speak the local language, you can avoid tourist traps, have a more authentic travel experience, and you can make sure that you are being charged a fair price.
But even if you aren't planning to go on that dream vacation to the Parthenon that you always dreamed of, there are still people in the United States who either don't speak English well or at all. These people may be immigrants or the children of immigrants who haven't been properly assimilated into American society. And while these people should indeed learn English, it can be difficult to learn a foreign language or maybe they simply don't have the proper resources.
According to numerous studies, learning a new language can also delay the onset of diseases like dementia. One study published by the American Academy of Neurology showed that on average, bilingual participants developed Alzheimer's disease 4.5 years later than monolingual participants.
Learning a new language can also help improve skills like study habits and problem-solving skills.
More job opportunities will also be available to you if choose to learn a foreign language. Aside from looking good on your job application, you will also increase your chances of getting hired, and getting paid more than you would have if you were only monolingual.
There is a number of reasons that people come up with to stop themselves from learning a foreign language, and sometimes there are real reasons. For instance, why should a fifth-generation farmer out in the heart of Idaho, working the land, growing and harvesting potatoes, have to learn Afrikaans, a language that he will probably never have the opportunity of using in his entire life? Of course, knowing a second language isn't a requirement for success in this day and age, at least if your native tongue is English, but it does, in fact, have benefits that you should consider before you toss the idea to the wayside.