Benefits Of Learning An Additional Language

There are many benefits to learning and additional language. There are many reasons why people say they don t want to learn another language such as they don t have time, or it`s too hard. When in reality taking the time to learn and master another language is very beneficial. You will find some of those benefits listed below.

1, Advance your career.

Whether it is to work abroad or just able to connect to people in different countries, the option to be able to speak to clients or employers in their native tongue is highly advantageous for you.

2, Connecting with people.

As in number 1, the ability to communicate with people in their native tongue is vital for work in today s smaller world but what if you were to travel and were able to communicate your journey is an incredible gift. Bilinguals have a unique opportunity to communicate with a wider range of people in their professional and personal lives.

3, Cognitive

Cognitive benefits are undeniable when learning another language. Multilinguals have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. If that weren t enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps to stave off mental ageing and cognitive decline.

4, Deepen Your Connection to Other Cultures

Language is the most direct connection to other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.

5, See the World

Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad. While monolingual travelers are capable of visiting the same places, travelers who know more than one language are more easily able to navigate outside the tourist bubble and to connect and interact with the place and its people in a way that is often inaccessible to those without the language. Learning a second language also opens additional doors to opportunities for studying or working abroad.

6, Go to the Source

In a world of more than 6,000 spoken languages, we sometimes require translation, but speaking at least one additional language empowers us to access information that would otherwise be off-limits. For example, individuals proficient in other languages are able to navigate the Internet as genuine global citizens consuming and assessing foreign media and entertainment.

7, Become a Polyglot

Not only does learning a second language improve communication skills and multiply vocabulary in your first language yes, really! but research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier feat, especially among children.3 That s because when you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are primed and ready when you embark on learning a third language.

8, Boost Your Confidence

Any language learner can attest to making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language often in front of an audience. It s a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you ll feel when conversing with someone in their native language.

9, Strengthen Your Decision Making

Studies show that decisions made in your second language are more reason-driven than those made in your native language. Contrary to popular assumptions, when we deliberate in a second or third language, we actually distance ourselves from the emotional responses and biases deeply associated with our mother tongue. The result? Systematic and clear-headed decisions based on just the facts.

10. Gain Perspective

As we explore a new language and culture, we naturally draw comparisons to what is most familiar. Learning about another culture sheds light on aspects of our own culture both positive and negative we may not have previously considered. You may find a greater appreciation for what you have, or you may decide to shake things up!