Slovenian is a relatively “small” language compared to many others – only around 2.5 million people speak it as their first language worldwide. Nevertheless, there is quite some interest in Slovenian as a foreign language – and there are quite a few good reasons for that. Let us take a look at some of them.
Slovenian can help you become a polyglot
Slovenian is a South Slavic language. If you master it, it can be a gateway to learning other South Slavic languages, like Croatian or Serbian. It can also give you some insight into other Slavic languages, like the East Slavic Russian or West Slavic Czech.
Languages belonging to the same group share some vocabulary as well as grammatical principles and inner logic of the language. Learning Slovenian can therefore be your path to becoming a polyglot.
Slovenia can offer amazing educational opportunities
There are quite a few good universities in Slovenia, including the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor. The universities are used to foreign students and there is a significant number of courses offered in English.
However, knowledge of Slovenian will help you feel more comfortable with your studies as well as learn even more. It will also be easier for you to adapt to living in the country while you are studying there.
Traveling in Slovenia is amazing – and you may even want to stay there for a while
Slovenia is a green country with breath-taking landscapes: beautiful mountains, rolling hills, mysterious caves, vast plains. You can see all of Slovenia in just a 2-3-hour drive from the capital Ljubljana. You can go skiing in the mountains in winter, swimming in the sea in summer, hiking all over the beautiful mountains in spring and autumn. Although small, Slovenia is covered with various monuments and other sightseeing opportunities that will keep you busy during your free time.
You can also add to it delicious food, affordable accommodation, exciting nightlife and welcoming people – and you might never want to leave.
You can make some good friends
Slovenians are generally very friendly and welcoming to tourists. They are also very likely to be excited to hear you speaking their language. No matter if you are going to Slovenia for a short trip or planning to work or study there, knowledge of the language will definitely make it easier to make friends.
Slovenian is a unique amazing language
Slovenian as a language has quite a few interesting features. It is very beautiful and romantic. It is fun to speak with some cute and funny swear words. It is very diverse with over 40 dialects. If you choose to learn Slovenian, it is not going to be boring.
Your brain will say «thank you»
Learning foreign languages is as good for your brain as physical exercise for your body. Slovenian may be a bit of a challenge if it is very different from your native language, but for your brain that might actually be even better. By learning it, you will improve your memory, develop cognitive skills and increase creativity.
As you can see, there are many good reasons to learn Slovenian. The fact that it is not such a wide-spread language might actually be an additional bonus – you can use it as a sort of code language when you don’t want to be understood. But be careful: there are small Slovenian communities on all continents of our planet!