Developing new skill sets is the latest trend, and learning a foreign language tops them. With the world becoming a global village, learning and exploring other languages and cultures is necessary, which changes your perspective.
Luckily, you can learn a foreign language with plenty of online and offline courses. So yes, learning a foreign language boosts your career prospects. But that’s not all! Here are ten reasons that will push you to learn a new language as soon as possible.
#1 Enhances Brain Power and Memory
They say, “use it or lose it,” which implies the human brain. For example, children learning French as a foreign language have better memory and good multitasking skills than children who are monolingual. Researchers have observed that when you speak your native language, only the left hemisphere of the brain is used.
On the other hand, both brain hemispheres are equally used while you speak a foreign language. The study of new intricate rules, structures, grammar, and lexis boost cognitive thinking and problem-solving. So, learning a new language is like being in a brain gym which helps your gray and white matter grow.
#2 Help you Develop new Connections
This is likely the best part of learning a foreign language. Your horizons of connections open as you can communicate and reach out to broader people. In contrast, you would have felt reluctant to speak to them. It helps you explore new cultures, make connections and enlarge your exposure. Your self-esteem is all high, and you are fearless. This is the power of knowing languages around the globe.
#3 Increases Your Career Aspects
Do you know employers love bilingual skills in your CV? Yes, it’s a factor that can make you stand out. As businesses and organizations are turning global, candidates who know a second language are beneficial.
Hiring such candidates can help the company grow its global reach through flawless communication. Also, if you are trying to study or work in a specific country, learning the language beforehand is advantageous. It is good for communication and personal growth.
#4 It’s Great for Traveling
Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “the limits of your language are the limits of your world,” and he was right. Knowing a foreign language can open up your scope of traveling countries effortlessly.
You can break the tourist bubble, interact with locals, and explore the place more extensively. Also, locals will appreciate your efforts. This also gives a sense of protection and a lot of confidence. You can ask your queries, order food, and travel without any hesitation or external help.
#5 It has Health benefits
You will be surprised to know that; learning a foreign language can have long-term health benefits, and it’s proven. In 2020, 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s an alarming number. In a study conducted by the 2011 American Association for Scientific Advancement conference, the bilinguals were studied against monolinguals.
The results were surprising as bilinguals had delayed or no Alzheimer’s and dementia in older stages. Also, bilinguals recover from stroke quickly. Thus prolonged health benefits of learning a new language affect the brain and body.
#6 It Improves Your First Language
Well, this is a very effortless yet impactful benefit of learning a new language. While retaining an entirely unknown language, you will start grammar, punctuations, tenses, etc. But for the native language, we simply start as we hear everyone talking around in that language.
So, it drastically improves your native language and brings awareness about all the grammar. Taking up a foreign language has become easy as children attend school online because of lockdown. You can take online classes or ask your children to participate in online language classes. Parents must know how to utilize this time and help children with online school during the lockdown.
#7 You Will Find Other new Languages Easy
Once you have mastered a new foreign language, you are aware of the learning graph. You’re well aware of grammar, courses, levels, and how to imbibe all the information. So, you have to break the ice once. Once you’ve started enjoying learning new languages, no one can stop you. You will become sharper, more active, and improve your brain memory.
#8 Increase Your Self Confidence
The addition of a new skill set will boost your self-esteem drastically. It’s like you know the language, and you can face any interview. You know you have a bonus over others. This leads to happiness and lots of self-confidence. Putting yourself in discomfort learning from scratch is very applaudable, and it instantly increases your value in professional life.
#9 Strengthen Your Decision Making
Psychological studies have proven that bilinguals are better decision-makers. The reasons can be exposure to different cultures, learning new ideas, stories and accepting the global languages. People who know more than one language make analytical decisions.
This can be due to their excellent brain health and exposure to a new language. Also, people who learned a new language at elementary school tutoring were more fluent and had sharper brains. So, if you’re interested, start now, this is the best time for exploring all the benefits of a new language.
#10 Improves Performance in Other Academic Areas
Multi taking and learning a new language is the ultimate exercise for the brain. Children and adults who know foreign languages have higher cognitive skills. These people are especially good at math, vocabulary, creativity, and problem-solving.
That is why many schools and colleges are making foreign languages necessary. It increases the horizons of the brain and prepares the brain for all the potential it can use. It helps in other academic subjects too. So, practice the ultimate brain exercise by learning a foreign language.
Let’s Wrap it
So, learning a new language only has pros and zero cons. You can take up popular languages like French, which is the 5th most-spoken language globally. Also, it depends on your interest and prospects.
So, choose the language wisely and learn even more new foreign languages after understanding one. Irrespective of age, you can learn from various online and offline institutions. Have a happy learning!