With English being the lingua franca in most parts of the world, most speakers think it’s unnecessary to learn a foreign language.
However, it’s worth mentioning that learning new language will never go to waste. You can use it while in a foreign country to talk to the locals.
Apart from allowing you to speak to the locals, learning a new language comes with numerous benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Improve Performance in the Academic Areas
Because of high cognitive skills, some studies show that learning a foreign language includes vocabulary, a higher score on a standardized exam in math, and reading comprehension.
Language skills can also boost your capability to perform well when it comes to problem-solving tasks; a fact acknowledged through compulsory learning curriculum in schools.
- Deeper Connection
Learning a new language is the most effective way to connect to other cultures. Being in a position to communicate in other languages will foster an appreciation for the history, traditions, arts, and religions of the individuals involved with those languages.
Your language connection, in turn, promotes empathy, acceptance of others, and tolerance, with some studies revealing that people who have learnt a new language express more and are open towards positive culture related to that language.
- Boost Communication Skills
Normally, when individuals mention the law of the unintended consequences, it is always negative. However, to a great surprise, learning a new language will enable you to pay more attention to the way you use your own.
The more you’re familiar with the frameworks for many languages, the more you are likely to notice subtle differences or similarities between them. These are the kind of things many monolinguists can have serious trouble noticing. In simple terms, mastering a new language will enable you to improve:
- Editing skills
- Writing expertise
- Grammar
- Make Good Decisions and Crack Problems
Apart from shaping the brain architecture, learning a new language will help you to get better at wielding your brain as a tool.
Even at a second-grade level, bilingual learners are good problem solvers. Learning a new language enables you to think more creatively regarding how to approach problems.
Being able to also speak a new language, you will be savvier to how details are presented and framed, enabling you to improve your holistic understanding of different situations and concepts.
- Get More Work Opportunities
Speaking other languages will open many doors to different job opportunities, which will not be available to all monolingual job candidates.
These job opportunities exist in sales, banking, public relations, government, tourism, law, education, administration, and marketing, just to mention a few.
As the world becomes global, the demand for experts who may communicate in many languages is becoming more common.
In fact, the US Department of Labor projects that the demand for interpreters and translators will increase up to 43%. Even when you’re unable to be a full-time translator, you can speak fluently in other languages.
Concluding Remarks!
As a learner, it’s simple to get frustrated. You can struggle to remain motivated, particularly when the entire process becomes challenging or repetitive.
Although some scientifically-proven advantages of learning a new language are not simple to notice, it’s a great idea to remind yourself of them every time.
