Czechs often tell me studying Czech is a waste of time. “But I’m living here,” I reply. “I need to know the language.” “No you don’t,” they insist. “Most people can speak English, so why learn a new language?”

It’s true that a native speaker can ‘get by’ with English, so the motivation is lower. It’s also true that they’ll be frustrated when trying to practice because people will constantly switch to English.

So, why learn a new language at all?

In my opinion, there are several good reasons, even if you plan to stay in your home country.

Language learning teaches you to be humble

It’s easy to appear sophisticated in your own language, but when speaking a new language you’ll look a fool. You can also use this to monitor the attachment to your identity. I thought I’d stopped caring what people think of me years ago, but my embarrassment at speaking a new language indicates otherwise.

Language learning hones patience

A student of mine once announced, “I’d pay $5000 if someone could inject me with English.” Like many of us, he wanted the outcome without effort and ‘on demand’, forgetting that anything worth having takes time. When we get something without effort, it seems worthless, so we chase after the next thing. Language learning is the opposite: a giant jigsaw with tonnes of mini-victories along the way.

Language learning is like taking your brain to the gym

I’ve had Czech lessons where my mind worked so hard I felt sick. Similarly, some of my own students have told me they need to lie down after class for their brain to recover. When speaking a new language, your mind is constantly dredging up knowledge. It’s a much better workout than a sudoku, crossword, or using a brain training app — plus it has real world application!

Language learning can be fun

To maintain motivation, it’s important to find aspects of the process you enjoy. Personally, I like to pick up colloquial phrases from people I speak to. When I use my new phrase with the next person, they want to teach me another local phrase — and so the cycle continues. It’s satisfying to collect scraps of knowledge from various people: as if I’m on a secret quest and everyone is helping me along the way.

Language learning brings new experiences

Whenever I question the point of language learning, I remind myself of the summer I travelled around rural China. Back then, I’d been learning Mandarin for two years and felt frustrated with my lack of progress.

One afternoon, I passed an old Chinese farmer outside his house. He beckoned me over and we began to talk in Chinese. Satisfied I wasn’t a spy, he invited me in for a cup of tea. The man’s wife had passed away and he now lived alone. I asked him a few questions, then he strummed some Chinese music.

Several minutes later, he put the guitar down.

“Let me tell you something,” he announced. “I am 73 years old and this is the first time I’ve ever spoken to a foreigner.”

It’s easy to find reasons to avoid starting something new. But when assessing whether something is ‘worth doing’, it’s impossible to account for the hidden opportunities and human connections we might encounter along the way. In my experience, this is the best reason to learn a language of all.