There has been a 700% surge in interest in the Kazakh language since the release of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Kazakh being the official language of Borat’s native country, Kazakhstan).
But while the Kazakh language is trending, taking the time to learn it isn’t the best investment.
New research by theknowledgeacademy.com has found the highest paid language skills for 2020 – and, unfortunately, Kazakh doesn’t make the cut!
Of all 20 languages analysed, knowing or learning the Bengali language could earn you the greatest salary, at an average of £38,064 per annum. However, there are only 20 job matches for the Bengali language currently available, which indicates this language skill though well-paid is highly competitive.
The languages Mandarin and Russian are next, with average salaries of £30,000 and £28,000, respectively. Luckily, your chances of landing a job that involves speaking Mandarin or Russian are higher. Currently, there are 174 job matches for Mandarin and 147 job matches for Russian.
Interestingly, earlier this year OnBuy.com found Japanese is the most sought-after language to learn on YouTube and yet it ranks in 6th place for the highest-paid language skills. In fact, according to theknowledgeacademy.com, a role that involves speaking Japanese will earn an average salary of £27,478 per annum.
Closing the highest paid language skills for 2020 is Lithuanian, with an average salary of £22,500 – £15,564 less than you might earn if you were able to speak Bengali!
Of course, learning a language and developing a new skill in today’s climate is advantageous. Theknowledgeacad
‘As a teen in the Philippines, I learned to speak English not from textbooks but from watching English shows and films. Today, my interaction with my husband allows me to get comfortable with slangs, intonations, and verbal mannerisms. In my role as the founder of Psychreg, I manage a small team who are based in the UK and the Philippines.
‘My fluency in Filipino and English allows me to effectively communicate with my team. But the benefits of being multilingual is not just for the business sector. Research has shown that multilingualism has many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages,’ he said.
While Sergio Alfonso, language expert at Absolute Translations, adds: ‘Flashcards are efficient and allow you to learn in a flexible setting. If you find yourself having a few moments spare, flash cards add up to big language gains over time. You can go traditional and buy index cards, write down vocabulary words which you want to memorise, and colour code them. If you prefer going digital there are many online programs which allow you to create your own flashcards plus access others people have created.
‘When you’re learning a list of words, recalling them aimlessly isn’t going to help forever. Your brain is more likely to remember things once they’ve been applied to real life conversations. Applying what you’ve learnt by speaking to a teacher or friend is crucial as it continues the learning. A good way is to practise writing the same word in at least ten different sentences as soon as you’ve mastered it. Repeating it in context will help you to make sense of what you’ve learnt moments ago.
‘When you’re doing something you love, nothing feels like a chore. A good way to pick up phrases and sentences of a foreign language is by slotting them into your everyday life. Memorise lyrics to original songs in a foreign language or translated songs that you already know – this will allow your brain to make the connection between common words. You can also watch TV shows you’re familiar with dubbed in a foreign language or watch the original series with subtitles – this way you can make a note of common words at your own pace.
‘Employers are searching for applicants who have a variety of abilities that they can share amongst their cooperation. Not only does learning a language show your curiosity about the world, but it also increases your professional value within the company as you are able to interact with a broader range of people. This skill will be invaluable for building new relationships and appeal to other global companies.’
