How Language Learning Can Promote Social Inclusion and Equity

How Language Learning Can Promote Social Inclusion and Equity

Simon Bacher is the CEO and co-founder of Ling, a successful ed-tech startup focused on language learning. Under his leadership, Ling has surpassed 5 million downloads. His strategic efforts have driven the company's revenue beyond $2 million within just six years, demonstrating his expertise in growth and thought leadership within the mobile app industry.

The Power of Language in Building Inclusive Societies

Language is more than just a communication tool—it plays a central role in fostering inclusion and equity in society. When individuals learn additional languages, they gain access to more than just words; they acquire cultural understanding, social mobility, and opportunities for meaningful participation.

Learning a new language helps bridge divides, ensuring that marginalized groups, immigrants, and minority communities feel heard and integrated into the fabric of society.

Real-World Impact of Language on Inclusion

In countries with high immigration, providing language education has proven critical in integrating newcomers into the workforce and civic life. For instance, numerous European and Scandinavian nations have recognized language as a barrier to social inclusion. Multilingual education policies in The Netherlands talks of targeting extra resources to schools for students at a disadvantage, especially languages. While in Austria, Italy and Luxembourg, a primary focus is on providing language courses for immigrants.

Key Areas Where Language Learning Promotes Social Inclusion

1. Access to Education and Employment: Language proficiency enhances access to both education and better employment opportunities. UNESCO emphasizes that when children are taught in their mother-tongue or through multilingual programs, dropout rates decrease, and academic performance improves, particularly for children from indigenous and minority groups.
2. Breaking Down Cultural Barriers: Language learning promotes empathy by allowing individuals to better understand other cultures. This is essential in diverse communities where a common language can act as a bridge between different cultural or ethnic groups.
3. Empowerment of Vulnerable Populations: Programs that promote mother-tongue literacy and multilingual education contribute to equity by giving marginalized populations access to information and public services. This reduces social isolation and ensures that individuals can actively participate in civic life.

Actionable Insights for Promoting Inclusion Through Language Learning

So how do we go about building an inclusive society through comprehensive language Learning strategies? To achieve lasting impact, policies must prioritize multilingual education from early childhood, ensuring that linguistic diversity is embraced as a core value.

• Implement Language Education Early: Incorporating multilingual education from a young age ensures long-term benefits. Educational policies should encourage bilingualism not just for migrant children but for all students to foster inclusivity.
• Community-Based Language Programs: Governments and organizations can offer free language courses tailored to migrants and refugees, helping them integrate socially and economically. For example, adult language classes combined with vocational training can enhance job prospects.
• Corporate Engagement in Language Learning: Companies that offer language training as part of employee development, especially in global workplaces, create more inclusive environments and improve collaboration across cultures.
• Promote Language Technology for Accessibility: Apps and online platforms that offer inclusive language learning tools can reach a wider audience. For instance, offering lessons in minority languages helps maintain cultural heritage while also supporting equity initiatives.

The role of language in promoting social inclusion and equity cannot be overstated. Whether through access to education, job opportunities, or cultural exchange, language learning empowers individuals and builds more cohesive communities. To create a truly inclusive society, we must adopt policies and initiatives that emphasize the importance of multilingual education and ensure that language is not a barrier but a bridge for all.