Many English speakers might think that it is not necessary to learn another language, since English is the lingua-franca of the world. These people are not always right. It is never a waste to learn a new language. It can be used to help you communicate with locals in a foreign country so that they can guide you to your destination, or you can use it to feel more at home when you move there to teach English. You can use it to help with your work and business trips.
You can access a new world of literature by learning a second tongue. But these aren’t all the benefits that come with learning a new language. Many more are available. We’ve listed nine.
1. Your brain will be stimulated by this game
It is undeniable that learning a new tongue helps to grow your gray matter. Learning a new language will require you to learn new rules of grammar and lexis. As your brain tries to catch up with the complexity of the new language and absorb the new patterns, it is also developing new neural pathways. The brain grows stronger and larger the more you use it.
Learning a new language is a great challenge for the brain. Scientists have proven that when we speak our native language, the left side is used. Second language usage doesn’t have a limit. Both are used, increasing both the grey and white matter in the brain.
A new language can also help to slow down mental decline and cognitive decline. Recent research has shown that monolinguals are more likely to experience the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than multilinguals. Researchers also looked at other factors such as health, education, gender and economic status. However, none of these variables contributed as much to the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia as did speaking multiple languages.
2. You will be able to pay more attention
According to studies, the attention span of humans is shrinking every day. Learning a new foreign language could be the solution to this problem. Recent studies have shown that the average person’s attention span has decreased from 12 to 8 seconds. Researchers believe that learning a language can help the brain focus and avoid distractions. This occurs when you switch between languages regularly.
This juggling allows the brain to focus on one thing and ignore other irrelevant information. One study noted:
The executive system is the system which directs the cognitive processing. These effects are most evident in older adults and children. They have been shown to be heightened by visual stimuli. In particular, bilinguals are more able than monolinguals to tune in to a stimulus or features of a stimulus despite irrelevant information. This is done through a process called inhibitory control .”
3. There are many career options to choose from
Many companies open offices abroad to expand their market. The need for bilingual candidates has never been greater. You can double your career opportunities by learning a second language.
Employers are searching for candidates who stand out in a highly competitive market. A foreign language can help you stand out amongst many other applicants. A CV that includes a foreign language skill could be the thing a potential employer looks for.
People who can speak more than one foreign language are in high demand on the job market, in all industries and sectors, because employers see them as better communicators. By learning a second foreign language, one can master many skills.
4. You’ll be more creative learning
Learning a new language can improve your creativity. When a person begins to learn a new language, they become familiar with the culture in the country where the language is spoken. As you become more familiar with new cultures, you will begin to see the world from a different perspective. You will become more creative, original and flexible as a result of the change in perspective.
Learning a new tongue also stimulates the brain, boosting creativity. The creativity you develop will also affect other areas of your life. Experts say that creativity improves well-being. Who are we to disagree with them?
5. You can improve your first language by using this app
Without formal education, one learns their mother tongue instinctively. Children who are raised in a culture where a certain language is spoken will begin to learn that language.
Learning another language, however, is an entirely different experience. You’ll be introduced to grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure from the very beginning. You become more aware of your first language as you gain more knowledge about the second. Before, you could not explain the abstract rules of language structure. Learning a second language allows you to put names on what you instinctively learned in your first language.
You will also become more aware of the differences between the two languages in terms of structure, vocabulary and grammar. These factors can improve your conversation skills and comprehension.
6. Multitasking skills are important to develop
Multitasking is not a skill that many people have. This is not true for bilinguals. Multitasking is a skill that they have mastered. They have been switching between languages every day. Once the brain becomes accustomed to switching from one to another language, it’s not difficult to apply this skill to other tasks.
National Institutes of Health conducted a study that concluded bilinguals can switch tasks quicker than monolinguals. The researchers found that monolingual children did not respond as well to the computer tasks given to bilinguals.
Another study found that bilinguals have a more efficient brain than non-bilinguals. They also maintain better task switching as they age.
7. Cognitive Decline is Reduced by Using This Product
Here’s a great incentive for those who haven’t yet started learning a language. You may be less likely to develop cognitive impairments early on if you learn a new language. In the United States, more than 16,000,000 people suffer from cognitive impairment. This can be Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia or another disorder. According to the latest study, people who speak more than one foreign language, regardless of gender, ethnicity and occupation, experience cognitive decline four and a half years later than those who only speak one.
Knowing a second foreign language may not be the fountain of youthfulness, but it will help keep your mind younger.
8. Memory Enhancement: Improve Your Memory
For one reason, the brain is often compared to muscle. The muscles grow and strengthen as you exercise. The same principle applies to the mind. The brain functions better when it is challenged.
Learning a new language can be viewed as a brain exercise. The memory is strengthened by first understanding and later recalling multiple grammar rules and vocabulary. People who speak more than one foreign language have a better memory. They are better at remembering names, lists, cell phone numbers and directions.
You don’t believe it? It is proven that vocabulary training improves memory. Take up another language to give your brain an exercise and strengthen your memory.
9. You will feel more confident
Everyone does not want to be in the spotlight. This is especially true when speaking in a language they do not speak well. This is the nature of language learning. You’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone so many times that you will eventually feel confident in any situation, regardless of whether or not you make mistakes.
There is nothing like the confidence that you get when speaking to a native in their own language. Your self-esteem will soar. It’s the same as mastering a skill. Once you reach your goal, you will feel good about yourself and confident.
Learning another language has innumerable benefits. The benefits we have listed are only a small part of the many. No matter how many lists there are, your own experience of learning a language will be the best way to convince you that it is worth it. Choose a language you enjoy and find appealing to open up the doors of many benefits that come from language proficiency.