13 benefits of learning a second language

In the past, it was thought that learning two languages created confusion in the mind . It was even thought that if it had been achieved learn a language there was no reason to bother learning another one. An even more extreme and absurd view was that learning a second language could cause a kind of Schizophrenia or dual personality.

Some studies seemed to support the idea that learning two languages ​​could be problematic, especially in children. Early researchers observed that bilingual people tended to have smaller vocabularies and slower access to words. However, today much more is known about learning other languages, giving way to a new perspective.

“Having another language

is to possess

a second soul. ”

(Charlemagne)

Advantages of learning another language

Today the attitude and disposition towards learning new languages ​​is completely different. Knowing a new language allows us, in addition to communicating with more people, learn more about that culture, how they think. And, what is better, it provides a series of social, psychological and cognitive benefits.

1. Optimizes the brain

When learning a second language, language centers in the brain grow, being one of its main benefits. Thus, the more you learn, the more brain areas grow. In this sense, the researcher at the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, ​​Albert Costa, has dedicated himself to studying it.

This researcher compares learning a language to playing a sport. Costa assures that “It seems that there are areas that have more gray matter, more density of neurons, in people who speak two languages. Just like a tennis player builds muscle, speaking languages ​​is mental gymnastics. Bilingualism sculpts the brain“.

2. Delays dementia

More and more academics and experts on the subject consider that bilingualism can increase our cognitive reserve capacity. This “store” that the brain has is formed by all the stimulating experiences that we have developed in our lives. For example, studying, playing musical instruments, reading, or learning new languages.

Thus, numerous investigations have related bilingualism with cognitive reserve and, consequently, have seen that it is associated with a delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years. Likewise, the higher this cognitive reserve capacity is, the greater the delay in the onset of cognitive deterioration caused by aging.

3. Hear better

Being bilingual can lead to improvement of listening skills. It may seem incredible, but this is because the brain learns to better discriminate sounds, in order to differentiate phonemes in one language from another. Thus, the level of precision is such that bilingual people are able to distinguish exactly two different noises.

Even a study conducted in the United Kingdom has found that bilingual children pay more attention to the speech of others than their monolingual peers, as well as better perceive unexpected changes in speech. Furthermore, this increase in attention appears to be similar in adulthood.

4. Be more sensitive to learning more languages

Learning a second language not only provides the benefits associated with that learning, but also makes it easier to learn more language. So the Babies raised in bilingual homes can distinguish languages ​​they have never even heard before. In this way, the greater ease of discrimination of sounds will make it easier to learn new pronunciations and to deal more quickly with the new language.

Thus, for example, only exposure to the different sounds in Spanish and Catalan helps them establish the difference between English and French.

5. Memory expansion

Speaking more than one language means that the person Must have good ability to handle multiple sources of information when performing a task. This is working memory, which is responsible for temporarily storing information in order to process it. It is essential in many tasks. For example, mental calculation, relating concepts, and even to interact with people.

Thus, research from the University of Granada and the University of York (Canada) has found that Children raised in a bilingual environment have a broader working memory, more effective. That is, they are capable of better handling information when working with it.

6. Improved cognition

In addition to what was mentioned above and in relation to it, it has been found that bilingual people have better ability to switch from one task to another more quickly. This is called cognitive flexibility and allows these people to adapt more easily to unexpected circumstances.

Related to working memory, multitasking and attention is cognitive control, which has also been seen higher in bilingual people. Apparently, this could be due to the need to monitor both languages ​​in order to consider which is more appropriate in each situation.

7. Improves attention

Bilingualism too greater control over attention has been linked, being better able to limit distractions. Albert Costa, again, states that “bilingualism influences attentional capacity. Being used to changing languages ​​improves the ability to concentrate when doing a task.”

8. New perspectives

To learn a new language can literally change the way you see the world. Each language, and therefore each culture, has particularities in its vocabulary. Thus, there are words that exist in one language and not in another, but this does not mean that this concept or object does not exist in both. It just happened to be more relevant to a certain culture. Thus, learning a new language can change the perception of the environment and sensitivity towards certain aspects.

Learning Japanese, for example, which has basic terms to describe colors (colors are proper names of people, male or female, for example: Midori is both green and a female name), can help you perceive color in different ways. ways.

9. Improve communication

learning a second language, increases the attention we pay to the rules and structure of abstract language, which can make you better in your native language. That is, more attention is paid to one’s own language, I feel more aware of the nuances and meanings that a sentence can have.

Therefore, it also improves verbal and non-verbal communication. Learning new intonations and pronunciations, for example, increases the repertoire and makes it easy to move freely through all the possible expressions, as needed. Thus, this can be a long-term advantage in daily life, improving the ability to relate to other people.

10. Encourage critical thinking

Thinking about how others think and express themselves makes us, on the one hand, reflect on how we think and express ourselves and thus, be self-critical. On the other hand, think about how other people construct their speech, how they intone and what they give importance to when they speak it is a powerful tool to understand points of view other than one’s own.

11. Better job opportunities

Candidates with extensive language knowledge are in demand in all companies. This is because we live in an increasingly globalized world and large international companies expect their employees to be able to communicate with people from all over the world.

A survey of British companies showed thatEmployees with a very good command of another language tend to receive a more competent salary than those who do not have these skills.

12. Travel is much more enjoyable

When learning a new language, vacations are experienced from another perspective. For example, instead of staying in hotels or large tourist resorts, you can find the courage to mingle with local people and travel off the beaten path and tours.

At first it can be a little challenging. But, you will notice how open people react when you approach them and try to speak their native language.

13. It allows you to experience other cultures

Learning a foreign language does not only focus on grammatical and communicative aspects. But also involves learning about the culture of the country in which the language is used.

It is important to know about the daily life of the local people, their traditions and their way of thinking. In this sense, a new language can broaden your horizons enormously.

In short, learning a second language will not only allow you to communicate with more people in the world, but It represents a change in the short and long term. Speaking another language will gradually change your brain and will also make you see things differently in the present.

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