7 BENEFITS OF LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

These days, it’s easier than ever to teach yourself something. Learning materials are quickly accessible, from YouTube videos to books and smartphone apps. You can go school (or college), but it’s possible to teach yourself certain subjects at home. The only hard decision is choosing what to learn.

One subject you can study that will have positive effects on your life is a foreign language. It doesn’t matter which one you pick. Learning a second (or third) language has various personal, professional, and cognitive benefits. And it’s something that you can definitely learn on your own. Having a teacher helps, but it’s not indispensable. Learning a new language doesn’t have to be a major time commitment, either. Experts agree that even 30 minutes of active learning per day go a long way. If you can spare time to peruse Instagram and Facebook, you can spare time to learn something. Here are 7 benefits of learning a new language:

THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH MORE PEOPLE

This one almost goes without saying. Acquiring a new language obviously increases the number of people with whom you can talk. If your only language is English, you can converse with roughly 20% of the world’s population. Learning a second language increases that range by a significant amount. Now, you’re not going to talk to that many people. Still, odds are in your lifetime you’ll run into someone who doesn’t speak your native language. And when you travel, it is a certainty. Whether you’re visiting Rome, Tokyo, or Moscow, knowing the local language gives you a big advantage. You could even make new friends. Plus, let’s face it. How cool is it to place orders in French at a Parisian restaurant?

YOUR RESUME WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO EMPLOYERS

Mastering new languages isn’t only about fun. It can also boost your career prospects. English may be the world’s lingua franca, but it alone can only get you so far. Hiring managers are more likely to pick you if you can speak more than one language. Not only that; bilingual employees may earn higher salaries than their monolingual colleagues. In this interconnected world, many companies engage in international business. As such, there’s a high demand for multilingual professionals.

IMPROVED COGNITIVE FUNCTION, INCLUDING MEMORY AND ATTENTION SPAN

Scientists have known for a while that acquiring a second language has positive effects on the brain. These include improved working memory and critical-thinking skills. You will remember things more easily and maintain better focus during certain activities. Also, knowing two or more languages enhances your ability to multitask. This is a result of your brain becoming accustomed to switching between languages. Being multilingual can slow down cognitive decline as well, often by as much as five years. That is nothing to scoff at.

ACCESS TO ENTERTAINMENT AND LITERATURE IN ITS ORIGINAL LANGUAGE

This is one of the coolest perks of knowing a foreign language, if you ask me. It gives you access to a wider range of entertainment. Whether you’re into movies, music, or books, there’s something for everyone. You could find a translation, though it just isn’t the same as experiencing a work in its original language. For instance, Russian is known for literature classics by writers such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. French has great movies, as well as beautiful music that includes greats like Edith Piaf. Even less popular languages like Polish have books and music worth looking into. I picked French myself and it allowed me to discover amazing music.

LEARN NEW STUFF ABOUT YOUR NATIVE TONGUE

There’s a saying that goes, “He who does not know another language, does not know his own.” It’s a quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a famous German writer. There is a lot of truth to that statement. You can discover new things about your native language by learning another. It also improves your grammar and vocabulary skills. By focusing on the rules and mechanics of a second language, you deepen your understanding of your first language. You find out why sentences are constructed the way they are. And the origins of certain words may surprise you. This makes you a more skilled writer and communicator.

HAVE AN EASIER TIME PICKING UP ANOTHER LANGUAGE

For some reason, many people think that only bright, young individuals can learn a new language. Neither intelligence nor youth are essential for that. As someone who knows three languages, I can tell you that it takes time, patience, and constant practice. Once you learn a second language, it becomes easier to learn another one. That’s because your brain built new connections, which will work for you if you decide to learn more languages. You also know what worked for you and know what to expect. This makes the prospect much less intimidating.

ENHANCE YOUR CREATIVITY AND YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Multilingual people are statistically more creative than monolingual people. Think about it. While learning a new language, you’ll often struggle to find a word that conveys what you want to say. This compels you to think of another word or method to use. Thinking outside the box that way can improve your creativity. In turn, you’ll get better at problem-solving. You’ll be able to come up with solutions you may not have thought of otherwise.

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And there you go. These are some of the major benefits that learning a new language gives you. Whether you're learning to advance your career or merely for fun, it's well worth the effort. I'm glad I took the time to learn more languages. My life feels better because of it. While I didn't learn French to show off, I very much look forward to order food at a Parisian restaurant. It'll be awesome.