Why learn a language? It's more than just about economics

My father has, many times over the dinner table, expressed his concerns about his children's lack of proficiency in the Chinese language. His way of motivating my sister and me: to remind us that China is a rising power, and that we should not throw away a crucial economic advantage.

Policymakers and teachers too have told us countless times of the need to maintain our bilingual edge: After all, the more people you can communicate with, the more money you can make.