Learning the language of your own ethnicity or heritage also gives you the chance to be closer to family that may live across the world. Getting to know the language of your family's roots can be meaningful to you on a personal level.
As a neurobiology major, I can't help but mention the neurological benefits of speaking another language: your memory will be much more powerful, and your ability to quickly adjust to a new activity will be amazing. Being multilingual (meaning you are able to speak multiple languages) also increases something called "neural plasticity". This means that your brain is all-around quicker to adjust and adapt.
Studying science while being abroad has allowed me to connect with researchers that share different perspectives and methods on how research can be conducted, as well as how the focus of research may be influenced by local conditions. Also, since I plan to enter a field like healthcare, where I will be providing direct care to patients, making sure that I have the cultural awareness necessary is key to being a good doctor.
