Benefits Of Learning A Second Language

“Learning a foreign language draws your focus to the mechanics of language: grammar, conjugations, and sentence structure”(Merritt). Before I began learning Spanish, I did not even know that conjugation was a thing, but in speaking a different language, I have had the opportunity to push myself to learn about conjugation in Spanish as well as recognize it in English. “The positive effects of learning to speak a second language can train the brain to analyze and process different linguistic structures” (9 Big Advantages). In the same way a foreign language affects one’s first language, it also creates skills that are highly beneficial to those who choose to use their brains. Benefits include: improved memory, increased attention span, improved multitasking abilities, more logical and rational thought, increased awareness of surroundings, and more. “Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems” (9 Big Advantages). Consequently, these cognitive benefits translate into different aspects of one’s life such as affecting their professional life.

Knowing another language puts a person in an advantage of carrier selection. In our extreme and fast moving environment, people who know more than one language have more employment opportunities. Many professional firms require knowledge of second language. And people who know a second language have a huge advantage over those who do not.

As the title suggests, “Speaking in Tongues: The Many Benefits of Bilingualism” is an article that examines the advantages of bilingualism. Due to the nature of the world, a great number of people have acquired the ability to speak more than one language. The author explores the benefits such an ability offers, arguing that bilingual children develop social, linguistic and cognitive skillsets that not only provides a chance to explore different cultures, but raises a child’s awareness of how language functions. The author also weighs on the cognitive aspect; applying the works of Ellen Bialystok to their ( the author’s ) argument. In the author’s view, bilingual children are better at dealing with conflicting cues and assessing information.

Two languages open every door along the way.” (10 Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners - Voxy Blog). In other words Smith believes that if a human obtains the knowledge of one language he or she is set to achieve their goals. However if one can speak more languages, many opportunities will open along the way. Both personally and professionally, having a second language is a valuable asset. Adapting another language, benefits one when travelling to diverse countries, as it is easier to communicate to locals, and meet new people. Personally, it is also easier to adapt more languages if one is already able to speak two. Professionally speaking, if one is bilingual he or she opens major doors in the workplace. There is greater chance of being hired by an employer, as a bilingual person is able to communicate with a larger range of people, which enhances the employer’s company (9 Big Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language). Not only does bilingualism increase chances of being employed, it also increases one’s income. Studies have shown that francophone workers in Toronto, earn up to $5000 more than their monolingual coworkers (Herry-Saint-Onge).The benefits of being bilingual can only be found if the individual first invests their time and money into learning. The added costs are undeniably worth it, in the long run. Seemingly, obtaining a second language is the key to unlocking major doors,

Another way that it can help the student is to excel in academic achievement. As stated earlier, knowing when and where to use the other language is very critical in developing the brain. Starting the teaching of a second language when the children are young is the deciding factor to whether or not it will benefit them in the long run. Because children’s brains at a young age are like sponges, The World Book Encyclopedia says that little kids have an increase in capacity to learn and talk a different “Language” without much thought (Wearing 62). A study by Clarkson, a behavioral study scientist in 2006 found that children who knew multiple languages “outperformed monolinguals in a series of tests assessing mathematical ability.” What could be the cause of these students doing better in algebra or other math classes? According to Bialystok, a behavioral scientist found “That they [Bilingual children] are better than their monolingual peers at selectively attending to important information and ignoring misleading cues.’ (Lauchlin et. al. 3). This could be that these students are better at paying attention in class and have a better brain capacity to pick out what they should and shouldn’t write down. In conclusion, students who take a

Despite these disadvantages, there are also some advantages. Some scientists have found that learning a second language can develop human intelligence. They believe and have proven that learning a second language offers remarkable benefits for our brains: increased flexibility and improved cognition. Bilingual or multilingual people have a clear, substantial mental advantage over what the public thinks. Learning a foreign language does not simply mean that we can talk to a wide range of people in the world; it is in fact much more fundamental. According to Dr. Thomas Bak, a lecturer in the Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences Department at the University of Edinburgh, learning a second language helps a person develop the brain, even though the person is not fluent in that language. The study found that learning a second language made the brain develop cognitive skills, not only associated with languages, and also protects the elderly from Alzheimer's and dementia disease when people are elderly (Delistraty). Many people know that using the brain frequently helps to prevent dementia disease. Studying another language is more economical than paying for hospital costs in the future. This is great news not only someone who is multilingual, but also positive news for everyone. In addition, when some people speak more than 2 languages, they use their brain a lot. Whereby, it helps to improve concentration and multitasking ability too. When people learn a second language,

In order to become a true bilingual, you must have a balance in your linguistic capabilities. Research indicates that the study of a second language during a child's early years results in cognitive benefits in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, deviating thinking and higher-order thinking skills. Foreign language study has also been shown to improve listening skills and memory. Bilinguals are often more focused than monolinguals and mentally decline slower, researchers say. It also enhances problem solving and analytical skills, allows better formation of concepts, increases visual-social abilities and furthers logical reasoning. In short, bilingual children are more adept at linguistic processing than monolinguals.

that children need to learn foreign languages. To start off, learning foreign languages is an advantage to the children’s future

Language, in its simplest form, provides humans a way to communicate with each other to express needs, desires, and emotions in general. Without even thinking about it, speech is a tool that we use every day at work or in casual conversation, and that our lives would be completely different without. Humans learn a first language (L1) around the age of 1, and there is a sort of innateness for it to be acquired—our brains are ready for it. However, acquiring a second language can often times be a different, and more difficult process for anyone who attempts to do so. But while it may be challenging, the benefits of bilingualism are seemingly endless as it enables one to communicate with a whole new group of people as well as helps in brain development in children and adults. It truly opens up a door of possibility. So what is it about the process of learning a new language that makes it so different?

In today’s increasingly globalized world, the ability to speak a second or multiple languages provides a wide range of benefits. Since people who have foreign language skills surely spent much time not only in studying the language itself but also in engaging with its culture, they can see things from other different perspectives, not from a single perspective. The latest study actually shows that bilingual children are more capable of understanding others’ perspectives than those who speak only one language (Whyte, 2016). Moreover being multilingual can also prevent Alzheimer’s and other diseases that affect the brain. In the international business world, workers who can speak foreign languages have more flexibility to choose their jobs than monolingual workers. Foreign language skills allow people to communicate with each other and to negotiate more successfully. Foreign language skills also can be a useful tool to fill a gap between different cultures, which leads to the success in building a good business relationships.

I have always been intrigued by the concept of language; whether it be from how languages originated, how people learn them, or how the language creates words different from the pre-existing languages, I draw an interest to all of it. I specifically remember when I was younger, trying to create a new language of my own. In today’s world, there are more than 2,000 languages spoken around the world. Some of those languages are only spoken by a single village while others are spoken by billions of people. Those who speak the less popular languages are most likely fluent in another major one. English is one of those major languages, although it is not the most spoken language in the world, it is a competitor; however, it is many people’s choice of a second language, and spoken regularly in many foreign countries. Many schools throughout the world make it a requirement for their students to practice another language while enrolled. Unfortunately, after graduation, students never retain the language, it was simply stored in their short-term memory. Becoming fluent in another language is not only alluring, but it is very beneficial to one’s self, and the global community. Being bilingual is proven to give a leg up to people in the business world, improve one’s mental health in many ways, and additionally advance other aspects in one’s life not ordinarily associated with the learning of a new language. Why is it beneficial for native English speakers to learn another language?

Given the appropriate environment, people tend to pick up a new language easily at a young age. Multilingualism doesn’t require complete fluency in another language, or the ability to speak two unrelated languages. The benefits of multilingualism are so stupendous that they extend outside the area of language. Children and elders learning a foreign language have been demonstrated to be consistently better able to deal with distractions, like holding two languages concurrently without allowing words and grammar slip from one to another (Bialystok). Multilingual speakers also develop a greater vocabulary size over time (Kosmidis), a markedly better language proficiency in, sensitivity to, and understanding of their mother tongue (Johnson), and have a better ear for listening and sharper memories (Lapkin, Ratte). Furthermore, evidence has shown that skill in several languages fosters creativity and innovation: multilingual people are aware that problems can be tackled in different ways according to different linguistic and cultural backgrounds (European Commission). They can use this ability to find new solutions.

“The Bilingual Advantage” is a very real thing according to scientists who perform research in the field of neurology, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics and language sciences, but by all mean do not feel as if you have been wasting your life away not having learned a second language -- not all is lost. Having heard that with each language one learns, the next becomes easier, I have always thought that learning languages does something incredibly beneficial for the brain. Informed by philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein’s quote, “the limits of my language mean the limits of my world,” Maria Konnikova writes in The New Yorker (2015), “The words that we have at our disposal affect what we see—and the more words there are, the better our perception. When we learn to speak a different language, we learn to see a bigger world.” Putting that phenomenon in to more scientific terms, scientists at the Academy of Finland (2009) say “there have been a number of international studies on the subject, which indicate that the ability to use more than one language brings an individual a considerable advantage.” Research on the subject seems to indicate that in fact there are plenty of benefits of speaking multiple languages, specifically relating to working memory and thus executive function, spawning the phrase “the bilingual advantage,” however there are also some drawbacks.

Learning a foreign language is not easy, but hopefully with our tips you will be able to successful master the foreign language you are studying or want to study. Our tips are based on the philosophy that "practice makes perfect". That is to say, the more you practice the greater chance you have of mastering the foreign language. So without further adieu here is The Top 5 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language.

“Making the United States a more multilingual society would carry with it untold benefits” oaks Ursula 20 April 2010. Multilingualism is in debate amongst people even in the modern times. Multilingualism is beneficial for people to learn and use. Some might say that multilingualism might be a waste of time. On the other hand, what is believed is that multilingualism is the supreme thing to do. Multilingualism is excellent as; languages are a gateway to the global community, encourages brain growth, important to the security and economic.