THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Learning a foreign language is more than just a boost to your CV or handy for traveling. It will make you smarter, more decisive and even better at English, says Anne Merritt.

Physiological studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer several mental benefits.

Below are seven cognitive advantages to learning a foreign language. Many of these attributes are only apparent in people who speak multiple languages regularly – if you haven’t spoken a foreign tongue since your A levels, your brain might not be reaping these bilingual benefits. However, people who begin language study in their adult lives can still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits, too.

You become smarter

Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other problem-solving tasks as well.

Students who study foreign languages tend to score better on standardised tests than their monolingual peers, particularly in the categories of mathematics, reading, and vocabulary.

1. IT LEADS TO BETTER BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

2.IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR MULTI TASKING SKILLS

3. IT BOOSTS YOUR MEMORY

4. IT GIVES YOU INCREASED ATTENTION TO DETAIL

5. IT HELPS YOU GAIN IMMERSION INTO A NEW CULTURE

6. IT HELPS STAVE OFF DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER’S

7. IT HELPS IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY