Two incredible talents. Every language means you could chat with anyone in the world. Every instrument means you could play piano, guitar, drums and violin. Which skill would you rather have instantly?
The case for “Speak every language”
- You could travel anywhere and make friends.
- Every movie and book would be open to you.
- Jobs all over the world would want you.
The case for “Play every instrument”
- You could be a one-person band.
- Every party would be more fun with you.
- Music is a language everyone understands.
Who picks which side
Travelers, language learners and people who love meeting others choose every language. Musicians and people who love parties choose every instrument. It is a lovely question for classrooms, because students can share which language or instrument they would try first.
Our take
Every language. It opens the whole world: travel, friendships, jobs and books. Musicians say music is a universal language too, which is a lovely argument.
Keep the debate going
Follow-up: which language or instrument would you show off first?
Make it harder
- Every language, but only reading, not speaking.
- Every instrument, but only one song.
- You lose your current language skills.
In one line: Words or music. Find more like it in our icebreaker would you rather questions.
Frequently asked questions
Which skill takes longer to learn?
Both take years. Learning one language well can take a long time, and so can mastering one instrument, so having all of them instantly would be amazing.
Which is more useful?
Languages, for travel and work. Instruments, for joy and bringing people together. It depends on what you value.
