According to the Journal of Neurolinguistics, 50% of the world population is at least bilingual. Does that mean speaking a foreign language is still a solid trend? What advantages do language learners have in the 21st century?
Long story short, language learning is still important. In fact, the market size of the global digital language learning industry is estimated to grow to 5.1 billion euros by 2025. Additionally, connecting with others by communicating in their native language is a significant benefit.
1. Career Advantages
Speaking more than just your own language can be a deal-breaker if you seek career opportunities in customer service, tourism and hospitality, or international business. The current global economy views multilinguals as valuable assets. First off, knowing more languages means you can communicate effectively with your team, business partners, and customers in their native language.
2. Improved Cognitive Abilities
Learning foreign languages gives your brain the necessary exercise to stay in good shape. First of all, memorizing new words and phrases improves your memory. Secondly, learning a new language pushes the limits of your attention span. The more you learn, the easier it is to focus. Those who master one foreign tongue often go for one or two languages afterward.
Learning a new language helps develop creativity and sharpen problem-solving skills. Learning sentence structure and new vocabulary contributes to a more analytical and logical mind. Studies show that bilingual children score higher in cognitive performance than their peers who speak only one language.
Your language-learning abilities also improve. That explains why people who learn one language find it easy to master a second one, then a third, and so on. Polyglots find it increasingly easy to make sense of language structure, learn new words, and switch from one language to another.
3. Prevent Mental Decline
Medical journals claim that language learning contributes to healthy aging and helps prevent mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Learning a new language forces your brain to be active, preventing cognitive decline. This stimulation keeps it healthier for longer.
4. Better Communication Skills
The more you learn about your own culture and first language, the better you can understand a target language and culture. When you embark on a language-learning journey, you inevitably learn about history and social context. This deeper understanding ensures better communication with native speakers. The benefits are even more significant with a third language.
Good communication skills are in high demand within our globalized world. Not only can you make new friends, but you can also negotiate with foreign partners and derive tangible benefits from your linguistic skills.
5. Personal Growth
Learning languages makes you more aware and improves your emotional intelligence. This improvement translates into reading social cues, body language, tone, etc. Exploring different languages enhances your ability to empathize with others, navigate complex social interactions, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships.
One of the benefits of learning a new language is the ability to experience native art and culture by understanding the native language. Watch movies and read books in Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish, etc. Immersing yourself in the target culture allows you to gain the skills you need to interact with native speakers.
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6. Better Travel Experiences
Traveling to other countries is a necessity in the current interconnected world. Speaking the native language of your target destination makes for a more fulfilling experience. Gain a deeper understanding of other cultures and access a more authentic side of traveling. Connect with locals, participate in cultural events, and get a better perspective of the world.
7. Improved Academic Performance
Knowing a widely spoken language improves your chances of studying at a reputable university in a foreign country. Unlock access to top universities in countries like China, Malaysia, Japan, France, Switzerland, and more.
Regarding better academic results, studies have revealed more grey matter in bilingual students. Grey matter accounts for better cognitive function and improved academic performance. Reading and writing are two skills at which bilingual students excel.
8. Multitasking Abilities
If you speak any other language besides your mother tongue, you are more likely to easily switch from one task to another. Bilingual people must learn to control which language to use while keeping in mind grammar rules and making vocabulary choices. So, when you start learning to switch between two languages, your brain practices multitasking. The new skills acquired can be successfully applied to any other area, making it easier to focus and increase efficiency.
9. Making More Connections
There are countless social benefits to knowing a foreign language. Bilinguals and multilingual people are known as better communicators. They develop specific abilities that help them speak clearly with others, including connecting by communicating in someone's native language.
Unlocking new cultures contributes to one's general knowledge. And the more you know about languages, the easier it is to make new connections. Your network will inevitably grow along with your ability to communicate more efficiently and get your message across almost any setting.
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FAQ
Do bilinguals have higher IQs?
Studies suggest bilinguals have increased cognitive abilities - better memory, analytical skills, and multitasking than monolinguals. People who learn a second language tend to have a higher IQ.
How does learning a new language help your brain?
Learning a second language provides enough exercise for your brain to stay active longer. It improves its flexibility and prevents mental decline.
What languages are the most useful to learn? (look for high-impact/highly influential languages to learn)
Deciding what new language to learn depends on your motivation. On a global scale, the top five favorites by the number of users and popularity are Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Portuguese. Hindi, French, and German also make the top 10 list in fluctuating positions.
How can I learn a second language?
Learning a foreign language requires good resources, immersion, and regular practice. FunEasyLearn is an award-winning app that lets you learn 34 languages and zero ads.
Is it worth learning more than one language?
Learning multiple languages can be incredibly beneficial. Most people who speak a foreign language are likely to learn another one. However, for the best results, it is recommended that you learn one language at a time.
Have you decided what language you want to learn?
