The benefits of learning another language are certainly worth it

Russian Poet Pushkin
Besides being fun, proficiency in another language can open doors to new experiences and opportunities that you may have never otherwise known.
Photo:Artem Beliaikin/Unsplash

SNS - In today's interconnected world, the ability to speak multiple languages is an invaluable asset. The benefits of learning a new language extend far beyond the classroom or workplace, enriching various aspects of our lives. Whether you are planning to move abroad, expand your business internationally, or simply broaden your cultural horizons, language proficiency can open doors to new experiences and opportunities.

You definitely want to explore the many advantages of acquiring a new language and how it can enhance your personal and professional life.


Travel and speak like a local

Do you like to travel, explore new places, and meet new people? By speaking the local language, you can easily navigate transportation systems, understand directions, and ask for recommendations. Language skills also allow you to connect with locals, making finding authentic dining options, hidden gems, and underground fun places easier. Moreover, being able to communicate in the local language helps you adapt quickly to new environments and overcome potential barriers.


Benefits of learning a new language when relocating

Moving to another country overseas can be a very stressful part of your life. Adopting is often difficult, especially if you are moving with a family with little kids and teenagers. The good news is that children develop language skills more easily. However, you should actively include them in language-learning communities as well. By breaking down communication barriers, you can ease your transition, adapt more easily to your new surroundings, and connect with the people around you. This is a good reason to enroll in a language course.

Learning the language of the country your visiting or staying in makes it easier to navigate simple tasks like buying groceries or taking the bus to a national landmark.
Photo:Atikh Bana/Unsplash


Easier adaptation in the new country

Learning the local language can make adapting to your new surroundings and lifestyle significantly easier. By mastering everyday communication, you can manage daily tasks such as shopping for groceries, finding services, and navigating public transportation with confidence. This proficiency reduces stress and uncertainty and helps you understand and embrace local customs and etiquette.


Enrich your business by learning a new language

Learning a new language is immensely beneficial when moving your business abroad, as it can help you attract top-tier employees and clients. Proficiency in the local language demonstrates your commitment to integrating into the new market and understanding its unique culture and practices. This can enhance your company's reputation and make your business more appealing to talented local professionals who value clear communication and cultural awareness. By speaking the language, you can effectively convey your vision and values, making attracting skilled employees who align with your goals easier. This ability to connect on a deeper level will give your bilingual business a sharp competitive edge.


Enroll in a language course

Taking language courses when you move abroad improves your language skills and opens new social opportunities. These classes bring together a diverse group of newcomers from various parts of the world, creating a supportive community where you can share experiences and learn from one another.

For example, while attending a language course in Barcelona, you might meet a French chef, an Australian writer, or a Brazilian artist—all seeking to improve their Spanish. Beyond the classroom, language course classmates often organize outings to practice their new skills in real-world settings. The friendships you form can become a valuable support network as you settle into your new environment.


Hire trusted overseas movers while you learn a new language

When preparing for an overseas move, it's wise to prioritize the benefits of learning a new language while leaving the relocation logistics to a trusted team of professional movers. Relocating abroad can be challenging and stressful, but by entrusting the complex tasks to a trusted team of overseas movers, you can concentrate on acquiring the language skills necessary for your new environment. Reputable moving companies take care of everything from packing and shipping to customs clearance and delivery, ensuring a smooth transition.

Moving to a new country can be challenging and stressful. Learning the language and local customs can make the transition much easier.
Photo: HiveBoxx/Unsplash

For example, Transparent International offers overseas relocation services from the United States to nearly any country worldwide. Their team handles everything from packing and shipping to customs clearance and delivery, ensuring a smooth transition. Choosing the right movers for an international move provides peace of mind, allowing you to focus on settling into your new home and embracing the opportunities of living abroad.


A couple of other considerations on learning a new language

The benefits of learning a new language when moving abroad or in general are vast and impactful. It opens doors to engaging cultural experiences and eases the transition into a new lifestyle. For business professionals, mastering the local language can provide a competitive advantage, attracting top-tier talent and building strong client relationships. Ultimately, the effort invested in learning a new language pays off by enriching your overall experience and setting you up for success in both your personal and professional life.



Overcoming burnout while searching for your next career opportunity

Welder at Work
Photo: Pavel Chernonogov/PEXELS

StatePoint Media - As the job search continues for unemployed Illinoians, a new national survey reveals a massive case of job hunt burnout.

The Insight Global survey, conducted among recently unemployed American adults actively seeking employment, found that a competitive job market, a lack of applicable jobs, low self-confidence and an inability to interview well are all contributing factors in job candidates’ lack of success in securing employment.

Fifty-five percent of respondents have been searching for a new job for so long that they are completely burnt out, and many are willing to take drastic measures to save and make money in the meantime: More than 2 in 5 would live at home with their parents; the same amount would rather create an Etsy business or thrift flip than send out another blast of resumes, and of Gen Z respondents, 44% admit they would rather get a sugar daddy or sugar mommy than apply to more jobs.

“It’s no wonder that so many unemployed Americans are feeling unmotivated – between several years of a volatile job market, headcount reductions, budget cuts, hiring freezes and a total overhaul of the way companies are running their businesses, it can feel downright impossible to get back on track,” says Bert Bean, CEO of Insight Global, a leading national staffing company.

To beat job hunting burnout and get back in the game, Bean recommends the following tips:

• Rethink Remote: Of millennials surveyed, 21% feel they’re still unemployed because they will only apply to remote job opportunities. To greatly expand your options, be open to hybrid and on-site work opportunities.

• Stand Out: Over a quarter of those seeking full-time work feel that there are no jobs available for their skill set or there is too much competition for available jobs. To stand out in the crowd, get creative. Whether it’s creating an interactive resume, dropping by the office for a quick hello, or just not stopping until you hear back, doing whatever it takes to get your foot in the door improves your chances of success.

• Find Small Wins: Job hunting can be exhausting and disheartening. Find things you can accomplish that help you feel productive and remind you what it feels like to win again. It could be getting in shape, completing a 5K, journaling for a month, or making five new daily connections on LinkedIn.

• Don’t Write Anything Off: Interestingly, 26% of men surveyed said they are still unemployed because the jobs they hear back from are beneath them. Leave preconceived notions like this at the door. Many companies offer opportunities for promotions and upskilling, so look past the specific outlined role and imagine future possibilities with that organization.

• Reach for Resources: When trying to get back in the workforce, don’t go at it alone. Companies like Insight Global can help you shape up your resume, brush up on interview skills, boost your confidence and connect you with companies and opportunities that fit the bill. Leverage events like the Be The Light tour, Insight Global’s free-to-attend mobile career center in select cities around the country. Accepting help from professionals will put you in a better position for landing a job. To learn more, and for additional tips and resources, visit insightglobal.com.

“While searching for employment that fulfills your professional goals can feel overwhelming, changing the narrative and thinking about the market in new ways can connect you with additional opportunities and position you to succeed,” says Bean.


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Expected growth is creating opportunities in senior home healthcare industry

StatePoint Media - Medical professionals, patients and their families are increasingly seeing the value of home care, and the industry is expected to grow. In fact, home health and personal care aide job openings are projected to grow 33% from 2020 to 2030, with experts predicting an estimated 8.2 million job openings in home-based care by 2028. Industry experts say that workers from all backgrounds, not just nursing, will be needed now and in the future.

"If you enjoy working with people and helping others when they need it most, a job as a home care or hospice nurse, home health aide, personal companion or caregiver could be a good fit for you," says Jennifer Sheets, president and chief executive officer of industry leader, Interim HealthCare Inc. "Likewise, if you're currently a medical professional seeking more flexibility and to be reminded of why you entered the field in the first place, home healthcare can offer greater job satisfaction and a much-needed change of pace."

To help potential job candidates understand this growing industry, Interim HealthCare is sharing some quick insights:

Why In-Home Care?

Home care describes personal care and support services provided to an individual in their home. Often referred to as senior care, it provides help with the activities of daily living as well as companionship to those who need support to maintain their independence at home. Home healthcare on the other hand, entails medical-based care to help patients recover from an illness or injury, or to provide in-home medical oversight and ongoing care for complex, chronic medical conditions. Many families and patients can testify to the various ways home care can be a game-changer, and a growing number of physicians and medical professionals are recommending home health services to patients of all ages because it delivers cost-effective, high-quality care in the setting where patients most often want to be -- home. Among these services are in-home nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, hospice care and bereavement services.

What Employers Want

Those in the know at Interim HealthCare say that being compassionate, trustworthy, dependable and having the ability to work independently can help you thrive in the field of home care. "Made for This," Interim's current recruitment campaign, highlights the company's need for registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, along with certified nursing assistants, home care aides, home physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Veterans, with their track record of serving and protecting others, are encouraged to apply for a home care job, along with anybody who thrives in a job that offers variety, challenge and new faces and places.

What to Look for in Employers

Seeking a career in the field of home care? Be sure you work for a home healthcare organization with a positive work culture that has your best interests in mind. That includes offering good work-life balance, flexible schedules, rewarding assignments and competitive pay. The employer should also prioritize your continuing education and professional development by offering advanced learning opportunities and room for growth, along with additional perks like tuition discounts, to make it all possible.

For a home healthcare career guidebook, visit info.interimhealthcare.com/jobs-in-home-healthcare.

As demand for medical and personal care in the home grows, consider a career in this thriving field, whether you're entering the workforce for the first time or embarking on a career change.

College scholarships available for future Illinois teachers

Photo: Janko Ferlic/Pexels


Do you like working with young children or have an interest in pursuing a degree in the education field?

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) is offering college scholarships to students and daycare professionals that plan to teach or become administrators in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois once they have earned their degree. The scholarship is available for students studying at any one of 63 colleges and universities in the state.

If you currently work or have worked in the early childhood education field and want additional credentials like a 2- or 4-year degree, you may be eligible for the scholarship. The award is designed to help cover college costs for an academic year - including a summer session - after financial aid from other sources has been received by the applicant.

"The program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the pursuit of credentials and advancement of already-held degrees in early childhood education, with an aim toward building a strong, well-prepared workforce," according to scholarship announcement on the isac.org.

The application deadline for the upcoming academic year is March 1. For more information and to apply, follow this link: ECACE Scholarship Program.

Commentary: The road to success is filled with disappointments and constant rejection

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Steady cash flow comes from steady work. If you want money you have to do something that produces money.

Much of what we want to do in life does not always produce cash. We may experience fun, enjoyment, fulfillment and entertainment but it may not render dollars. Often, much of what we enjoy in life typically costs us money and usually a lot of money.

You may love to play golf and even aspire to make a professional tour. You could spend most of your life and tens of thousands of dollars on green fees, memberships, lessons, travel and more and still never make a dime from playing golf.

You may love movies, theatre and plays and spend years in drama schools and Hollywood and never get a job that pays any money. This story is true for those who dream of making it big in music. I’ve talked to numbers of singers in Nashville, Tennessee who have spent years singing for tips and often for free. They pursued their dream relentlessly and some ended up homeless because while they pursued their dream, dollars were not coming in to support them.

Writers have spent their lives trying to write one great book that someone would notice. Painters often paint their entire lives without much fanfare or few sales. Would be entertainers and artsy folks from all walks of life know that the road to success is filled with disappointments, constant rejection, little to no support and poverty.

I was a weird guy in high school as I aspired to be a full-time minister. Sixteen years old was an odd time in life to start shunning my electric guitar, lose my passion for basketball and aspire to be a minister. It also didn’t do a lot for my dating life either.

My dad thought I was crazy but never said a whole lot. Once he did say, "Why don’t you get a good job and preach on the side?" I thought that was a crazy idea because I knew of too many ministers who had full time careers and seemed to do okay. Thus, I went to school until I was 29 years old to be a full-time minister. The post college degrees that I attended full-time for seven years were enough time for medical school, Law school or whatever but I pursued my calling and followed my heart.

I don’t regret pursuing my dream. I had about 35 years of being an average wage earner as a minister and sometimes did better than average. However, my dad had respectable advice as parent’s usually do. Today I give the same advice. Follow your dream but you need a sawmill on the side for stable cash flow. Church has changed. Many churches are small and can’t afford a full-time minister. Sadly, often ministers and congregations can’t survive in harmony for more than a couple of years so this makes for a very unstable life.

When I say, "you need a sawmill on the side," I mean you need something in your life you can count on. You need a plumber’s license, a teaching certificate, carpentry skills or a business of some kind that renders dollars. Why? You can’t always depend on what you love doing to produce income. It may be what you love to do and you may be terrific at what you do but often you can’t count on it financially.

Find a work that people must have or want very badly. If you are in a work that someone must have then there will be financial rewards. If they want very badly want you have to offer there will be financial rewards. If they want and need it both you are golden.

It may not be your passion but you will generally make enough money from your "sawmill" so you can sing, dance, paint, entertain, write, act or even preach on the side. When you do what you love to do without the constant pressure of needing money then you are free to do it enjoyably without the stress of wondering from where your next meal will come.


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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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Joining the tech workforce is easier than you might think

(StatePoint Media) -- More than 12 million people are currently employed in tech-related occupations in the U.S., either as information technology (IT) professionals or employees of technology companies. Yet employer demand for tech workers is still strong in many markets and industries, including technology, financial services, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, government and education.

Tech jobs in Champaign County are plentiful at the moment. Technology Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is currently accepting applications for three positions on their Managed IT Services teams. Four days ago, Revature was seeking software developers and Niemann Foods advertised an opening for a Network Administrator with a starting pay at $40K annually.


Most people assume that tech jobs require the ability to write computer or application code. Companies are looking for employees who can solve problems creatively as well as help businesses operate more efficiently and profitably.
Photo:ThisIsEngineering/Pexels


The County of Champaign Forest Preserve in Mahomet posted an opening for an part-time IT Technician on April 1. Jeld-Wen in Rantoul recently had an opening for a Senior IT Business Operations Specialist who would support training, data and other technical needs for the company and its business partners.

Unfortunately, misperceptions about tech occupations persist. People assume that in such jobs, you’re relegated to working alone writing software code or that you need to be a math genius or have an advanced academic degree to even get your foot in the door. These misperceptions can discourage qualified candidates from exploring career options in the IT field.

"Today’s IT professional plays a leading role in virtually every business and industry, identifying innovation and technologies that can determine the future of an organization," says John McGlinchey, executive vice president for global certification with CompTIA, a nonprofit association for the IT industry. "Companies are eager to hire people who communicate effectively, are comfortable working as part of a team and are creative in identifying how to use technology to make a business more efficient and profitable."


If you don’t believe technology is a viable career choice, consider all of the things you’ve done today that are made possible by technology

In fact, 62% of executives surveyed for CompTIA’s "Workforce and Learning Trends 2020" report ranked soft skills such as relationship building, persuasion, integrity and confidence with equal importance to hard technical skills when it came to hiring for their tech workforce.

For anyone thinking about a career in tech, the best first step is to learn more about the technologies of today and tomorrow, and the occupations associated with these innovations. Many free resources are available. Here are three examples:

The Future of Tech (www.futureoftech.org) is a growing library of resources on what’s new and what’s next in the world of technology. Topics such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, big data and the internet of things are highlighted on the site, which is designed for anyone interested in learning more about technologies that are shaping the way we live and work.

The IT Career Roadmap (www.comptia.org/content/it-careers-path-roadmap) offers insights into a variety of career paths, including tech support, networking, cybersecurity, data and software and web development.

The IT Salary Calculator (https://www.comptia.org/content/it-salary-calculator) allows you to explore salary estimates for different tech occupations at different levels of expertise. The calculator includes salary data from 400 different metropolitan areas covering 85% of the U.S. population, from an IT support specialist in Portland, Maine ($52,750) to a cybersecurity analyst in Portland, Ore. ($101,530).

"If you don’t believe technology is a viable career choice, consider all of the things you’ve done today that are made possible by technology -- from the car you drive and the streaming entertainment channels you enjoy to a telehealth visit with your doctor and the ease and efficiency of online banking," says McGlinchey.

The IT field is no longer a world of pocket protectors and motherboards. With more people using more devices than ever before to stay connected to one another, industry experts say that today’s IT workforce is open for business for anyone with great curiosity, creativity, personality and versatility.

Free technology training program offered by UIUC Research Park

The University of Illinois Research Park and American Family Insurance have partnered together to create a free part-time technology training program for people looking to expand their knowlegde or migrate to a more technology based career.

ILLINOIS REBOOT is a coding pre-academy that will introduce students to fundamental skills needed in programming and database management. Participants will gain a strong foundation in data science literacy while being introduced to UNIX, SQL, Python, GitHub, and Agile project management principles.

The training, which starts in February, will be taught in two-hour blocks. There are eight required classes and four elective courses incorporated in the program which runs through March 9.

Upon successful completion of curriculum and program requirements, participants will be awarded a University of Illinois Research Park Tech Badge certificate.

No previous programming experience is necessary. Participant must have access to an Internet-capable computer with a major operating system and reliable WiFi. For those without access to reliable connection, EnterpriseWorks incubator will also be an option for onsite use for participants who need dedicated service. Tablets, phones and other mobile or smart devices are not usable for completing assignments.

Participant in the program must also have the ability to download and install software on the workstation. While programming skills are not required, a technical aptitude or experience working with digital or computer technology is recommended.

For more information prospective student can email Rebecca Motley at motley1@illinois.edu. To apply for the program, complete the online application located here no later than January 13, 2021.


Photos this week


The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team hosted Oakwood-Salt Fork in their home season opener on Monday. After a strong start, the Spartans fell after a strong second-half rally by the Comets, falling 5-1. Here are 33 photos from the game.


Photos from the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team's home opener against Maroa-Forsyth from iphotonews.com.