Reasons for learning Russian

1. It's One of The Most Spoken Languages in The World

The first of my reasons for learning the Russian language is that it is spoken by more than 260 million people around the world. It is not only the official language of Russian, but also of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, It is spoken in Israel, the Balkans, Ukraine, Armenia and the USA. At times, it has been considered as the most spoken language in Europe, and, according to the language catalog, The Ethnologue, Russian is the 8th most spoken language in the world. Being a Slavic language, the Russian language shares a lot of similarities with languages such as Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Czech. When it comes to the countries which were part of the old Soviet Union, it is estimated that those who were in their twenties after the dissolution of the USSR still know some Russian. It is estimated that there are around 850.000 speakers of the language in the U.S. alone.

2. Knowing the Russian Language Improves Your Employment Opportunities

From the start of the new millennium, Russia has constantly been in the process of positioning itself as a major economic force. The birth of the new Russian middle class has led many to travel abroad, making a significant mark in the global tourism industry. This means that if you work in tourism, knowing how to speak Russian is definitely an asset to put on your CV. Leaders of BRICS during a G2O meeting of in 2013. Regarding international affairs, the events in Ukraine in 2014 proved that Russia is trying to recuperate its position as a geopolitical leader along with the USA, the EU, and other powers. Russia is currently a member of G20, BRICS, the European Council, The United Nations, UNESCO and the World Trade Organization. This has made Russian a language that is commonly used in diplomatic exchanges. Another aspect which has helped 21st century Russia become what it is today was the economic boom the country experienced at the beginning of the millennium. As a consequence, many companies are looking for qualified international workers who master Russian. Moreover, because many directors and CEOs of corporations speak little to no English, Russian companies are in an increasing need of people who master both English and Russian to become their translators. Having the opportunity of including on your CV that you master Russian will always make you stand out, even if the position you're applying for doesn't require you to speak Russian or any other languages. For an employer, being able to immerse yourself in and continue to learn a language which is considered to be difficult to learn will demonstrate dedication, recursion and perseverance (such qualities are highly sought in candidates). In short, being able to speak Russian speaks about your intellect.

3. It Has a Fascinating Culture

A big part of Russian culture can be discovered through its literature and language. What literature lover wouldn't like to read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Pushkin in its original version? The Russian language has an enormous amount of expressions you can't find in English. For example, when I was still studying Russian I read 'The Little Prince', and I saw that English sometimes needed to use three to six words to express a concept, while Russian only needed two or three. Although some might think of it as having been simplified, that is not the case. Separating functional words such as articles, verbs, auxiliaries, connecting verbs and some prepositions allows the author to narrate the story even better as it leaves more space for more significant words. Another way its culture is manifested is through music. From traditional Russian music to the more contemporary version of the Red Army Choir and romantic music, Russians have always been able to mark their culture in music. However, Russian culture isn't limited to classics! It has become modernized and has mixed with global culture all while remaining true to its roots. Personally, I like Russian TV series, Russian movies, modern rock and rap music and, particularly, the alternative culture which is currently developing in Saint Petersburg. It is very interesting for me to see how people of my generation, those who were born when the Berlin Wall fell, have grown, and to understand their view of the future and the past. Once more, being able to speak their language will allow you to understand them and their culture, something which could never happen through cultural exchanges.

4. You Will Discover The True Russia

After a few trips to Russia and after having spoken to other tourists there, I am convinced of one thing: once you learn the Russian language (even if it is just a bit), your trips to Russia will be completely transformed. Russians aren't know for their smile, some aren't too trustworthy of foreigners either, and, to make things worse, not many speak English or other European languages. So what usually happens is that tourists end up having limited communication with locals due to the language barrier, giving them a negative impression of their trip. However, I can assure you that after acquiring the ability to have a conversation in Russian, making friends will become much easier; it's as if a veil will be taken off, and Russians will instantly become welcoming and friendly.

5. The Perfect Opportunity to Broaden Your Social Circle

Speaking another language will give you a huge advantage when it comes to making new friends and contacts. Knowing the Russian language will help you empathize with the people of its country and to establish professional relations or making new friendships during one of your trips..

6. It Allows You to Learn Something New, Useful and Different

This is a good reason for learning Russian, as learning this language makes you understand useful concepts for studying other languages. It will also help you understand your mother tongue even more. Learning Russian will completely change the way you tackle learning other languages and your surroundings. If you're a university student or are in college, now is the time to take the decision to learn Russian.

7. Russian language is the most widely spoken among Slavic languages. You should certainly learn it – there are about 300 million total speakers of Russian in the world. .

Russian became one of the languages of world communication – a global language – as early as in the twentieth century. Today, there are less than ten global languages in the world. This means that the Russian language – just like English, French or German – is used for communication by a very large number of people around the globe. In addition, Russian is one of the official UN languages. Out of approximately 300 million people in the world who know Russian, 160 million people consider it to be their native language. The Russian language is ranked the fifth most prevalent language in the world.