THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE
Learning a new language is an exciting and challenging way to broaden
your horizons because it brings you a lot of benefits.
1. Improve your memory
The more you use your brain to learn new skills, the more your brain’s
functions work. Learning a new language pushes your brain to get familiar
with new grammar and vocabulary rules. It allows you to train your
memory to remember new words, make connections between them, and use
them in contextual situations.
Learning a foreign language at any age will help you learn new things in
other areas of life. Learning a language is challenging, and that challenge
can also assist you in learning additional skills. The more you practice the
process of learning, the more quickly and efficiently your brain works.
2. Enhance your ability to multitask
Time management and multitasking are two skills that will always help
you. Multilingual people have the ability to switch between languages.
Their ability to think in different languages and be able to communicate in
more than one language helps with multitasking.
3. Improve your performance in other academic areas
Fully immersing yourself in a language learning environment means not
only learning the basics of that language. It means learning how to
communicate in another language with your peers or participating in
extracurricular activities in that specific language.
4. Allow you to connect with your family
Learning the language, your family members speak natively allows you to
connect with them on a more personal level. When you speak their
language, they will be able to tell you things they would otherwise struggle
to explain in English.
In addition, you can learn about their culture, history, and traditions by
simply talking with them daily—far more than if all communication was
done through an interpreter or translator. This knowledge will help you
better understand your family's personality and why they act the way they
do, which may help strengthen your relationship and give insight into
yourself and what makes you who you are today!
5. Enhance overseas travel
Foreign language learning also makes it easier to travel, as you'll be able to
communicate with the local people and understand signs, menus, and other
written materials. Unless your travel plans involve only English-speaking
countries, you’ll probably want to learn a new language to make things
easier for yourself.
6. Promote cultural understanding
By learning another language, you can understand what people are saying
and the meaning behind their words. You can also understand their culture
and way of life better.
7. Help you make new friends
You can meet people who speak the language and have a common interest.
This is great if you're looking to make new friends in your country or
abroad. You may also meet people who speak multiple languages, which
would allow for some interesting conversations about how everyone learns
their second language differently.
As long as there are people around from different cultures or countries,
there will always be someone willing to meet up with others who share
their passion for languages!
8. Understand more about your own culture and language
A foreign language will allow you to understand your own language better.
You'll learn about the structure of your native tongue, which will help you
appreciate why it works the way it does. You'll also see how other
languages operate and how they differ from English.
An understanding of both our own cultures and those around us can lead us
to greater tolerance and peace between various groups of people around the
world by allowing us to empathize with each other more effectively than
before!