Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement ?
Speaking another language apart from one’s mother tongue is socially and practically challenging for the people living abroad. I strongly agree with this statement because a lack of understanding of different languages would create major difficulties in social interactions and everyday situations.
Immigrants who have to speak a foreign language often experience social awkwardness due to language barriers. Without the ability to communicate using a language effectively, many people find themselves struggling to convey their exact meaning and cannot naturally talk to others without feeling embarrassed. This usually prevents individuals from being able to fully express their personality and form bonds with others. In such a circumstance, they might end up friendless or be viewed by the locals as a distrusted stranger which consequently leads to isolation and discriminatory practices. In the long term, this would result in segregation and therefore social disharmony as a whole.
Living in a country where a different language is used could also prompt several practical hurdles. If the non-native person is not good in the local language, he probably will not be able to communicate his needs correctly which in turn disturbs his daily life on a practical basis. For instance, perhaps people struggle to do the shopping as they cannot explain what they want to the shop assistant. Although one can tolerate such little disturbance, there may be times when linguistic barriers can potentially cause life-threatening situations. Take issues with hospital appointments for example. If a person falls ill and is poor at pronunciation, his symptoms would not be properly presented. Such miscommunication could cause incorrect diagnosis, leading patients to encounter unnecessary treatment and thereby serious consequences. Hence, before settling in a new state, non-native speakers should master a second language in order to overcome communication barriers.
In conclusion, I believe that, ultimately, inefficiencies in a foreign tongue not only will possibly hinder relationships but also bring serious problems when carrying out daily and necessary tasks.