You’re scrolling through your comments section and you notice a string of messages written in Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish. Instead of wondering why, consider this: your content has wings. It’s flying off to far corners of the world, making fans and pulling in views. The question isn’t “Why?” – it’s “What next?”
In this article, we’re going to talk about the unexpected benefits of learning a few words or phrases in a foreign language. We’ll see how tossing a “Bom dia,” a “Привет,” or an “¡Hola!” into your content can have an impact.
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We’ll look at four areas where knowing another language can give you unique appeal as a content creator:
- Surprising your international followers with a few words in their native language
- Making funny or surprising content with language-based jokes and observations
- Opening up the less-traveled road of partnerships with international brands looking for a fresh face to help them break into English-speaking markets
- Inviting your followers along for the ride as you explore a new culture and language
So, let’s dive in and explore how a pinch of linguistic flavor can spice up your content and grow your following.
Deepen your Relationship with an Audience Niche
Ever dived into your audience analytics on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok? It’s a treasure map.
Your digital footprint spans the globe. There’s excitement in realizing your content has found a home in places you’ve never visited.
Why not give these international followers a virtual wave? Show them that you appreciate their support. Take an interest in their culture, ask them about it. The responses might surprise you.
And if you’re doing well in places like Russia or Kazakhstan, Brazil, or Spanish-speaking Latin America, that’s your cue to pay attention. These are places where English is not that widely spoken, yet they’re tuning into your content.
Their languages are global. Learning Spanish or Portuguese is a manageable challenge for an English speaker and opens up communication with hundreds of millions of people. Russian is a tougher nut to crack, but mastering it can pave the way to understanding other Slavic languages and unlocking a cultural trove across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
They already like what you do in English. Imagine if you could communicate with them in their own language.
Knowing another language also opens up content previously invisible to you. You can discover what’s trending in these regions, react to it, or be the first to introduce these trends to your English-speaking followers and foster a global community on your page.
Along the way, you’re bound to pick up snippets of cultural knowledge, inspiring you to create more diverse and inclusive content.
So, why not give it a try? Start small, learn a few phrases, and see where it takes you.
Make Content About Languages
Once you start learning a foreign language, you’ll find that a whole world of experiences and observations opens up.
You won’t just be thinking about the language you’re learning, you’ll be thinking about language in general.
Here are some ideas for content you might be inspired to make as a result:
Language challenge videos: Choose some difficult-to-pronounce words or tricky tongue twisters. Try to say them correctly and invite your audience to join the fun.
Cultural comparison: Talk about funny or curious differences between English and other languages, like idioms, expressions, or sayings that don’t translate directly.
Guess the meaning: Present your audience with a foreign word or phrase, without its translation. Invite them to guess its meaning based on its sound or context.
Language myth-busting: Address common misconceptions about foreign languages. This can be both educational and entertaining.
Word of the day/week: Introduce an unusual or interesting word in a foreign language. Explain its meaning, usage, and context, and maybe invite your audience to use it!
Teaching your pet: Try teaching your pet new tricks or commands in a foreign language.
Song lyrics challenge: Choose a song in another language and try to explain its lyrics. This can expose your audience to new music while also exploring language nuances.
Reactions: React to content, such as TV shows, music videos, or viral clips, from a country where your chosen language is spoken.
Language mix-ups: Share funny personal experiences or stories you’ve heard involving language mix-ups or “lost in translation” moments.
Virtual travel guide: Guide your audience through popular tourist spots or hidden gems in countries where your chosen language is spoken.
Introducing regional trends: Share a meme or viral challenge from a non-English-speaking part of the world with your audience. This could even kickstart a new trend in the English-speaking community.
Get More Rewarding Collaborations
Now, let’s talk about the brands. You know, the ones that slide into your DMs with an offer that sounds too good to be true. Usually, these are well-known companies that are used to working with content creators like you. But what if you could flip the script and collaborate with brands that are a little off the beaten path?
Learning a language opens the door to working with people from all around the world. Here’s how this can spice up your influencer game:
1. Cool, Unseen Stuff
By speaking a different language, you unlock a world that your English-speaking audience might not know about. This can make sponsorships more interesting, as you introduce your followers to products that aren’t on every other influencer’s page.
2. Real Talk, No Scripts
When you speak the language of the brand you’re working with, you can understand their story, and you can talk about it in a way that’s not just marketing-speak. You can be real with your audience while showcasing something new.
3. Being the Culture Connector
And then there’s the really fun part: you’re a bridge between cultures. When you work with brands from other countries, you’re like a tour guide to hidden gems of culture.
4. The Human Side of those Companies
Speaking the brand’s language can help you connect with them on a more personal level. It’s not just about getting a better deal (though that can happen, too). It’s about building a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding.
So, learning a foreign language as a content creator can also be a way to work with brands in a more authentic, creative, and fun way. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find some companies that really click with your values.
Take Your Followers on a Cultural Journey
Learning a language doesn’t have to be a solitary endeavor. It can be a shared adventure, like a road trip with your followers in the passenger seat. And it isn’t all about achieving fluency, but the mishaps and laughter along the way.
As you navigate new landscapes of culture and communication together, you find surprising similarities and stark contrasts to what you know. You’ll naturally attract people interested not only in languages, but also personal development and travel. Even the more casually engaged members of your audience might be drawn in by the insights your journey throws their way.
It’s not about perfection. Showcasing your struggles and language learning hiccups offers a vulnerability that audiences crave. They’ll be rooting for you, eager to see you succeed, and maybe even helping out when they’re native speakers of your target language.
These evolving skills can spur a creative evolution in your content too. It’s possible to integrate your learning process into your existing niche, or you might discover a completely new one. For example, if you’re a cooking channel, exploring recipes in your target language creates a unique fusion. Or you can join forces with content creators from your target language community, sparking dialogues that broaden horizons.
Your language progress is content that writes itself. Every new word learned, every grammatical mystery solved, every awkward language hiccup is a story. You may even stumble upon linguistic surprises, like an idiom with no English equivalent, provoking interesting discussions about language and culture.
This experience prompts a reevaluation of what we consider “normal.” It opens up conversation about cultural assumptions and biases, about being more inclusive and open-minded. Depending on your channel’s vibe, these discussions can be deep and thoughtful or sprinkled with light-hearted humor.
After all, it’s not the destination, but the enriching, surprising, and sometimes challenging journey that forms the heart of your content. And it becomes an experience you all share.
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How Lingvist Can Help
Lingvist is the AI-powered language learning app you can use for just 10 minutes a day to efficiently grow your vocabulary.
It’s available with a free trial. We’re always interested in hearing from content creators, so if you’d like to collaborate, contact us and we’ll work something out!
