The benefits of bilingualism
What are the benefits of bilingualism?
What makes a person want to learn a second language? Are there any benefits besides being able to watch movies and TV in a foreign language? (SPOILER ALERT: Yes, there are.)
I list some of the benefits that you or your child can enjoy when learning and speaking a second language. Note: there are more than what I’ve included in the list below! Consider this to be a starter kit to help convince you to take those classes you’ve been putting off for years.
1. More job opportunities (possible higher pay, too).
Having a second language on your resume is always an impressive skill to any potential employer, especially if the company is international. Being bilingual shows an appreciation for other cultures and may give your resume a boost if you’re being compared to another applicant who only speaks one language (Ecole Bilingue). No matter where you are located in the world, chances are, you will end up with coworkers whose first language is not the one you speak – and having the ability to communicate with them in their native language shows your willingness to expand your mind and understanding of a culture that is not your own.
2. A better ability to multitask.
Research has shown that those who speak a second language are more easily able to switch to new tasks than those who only speak one language – this is because we are constantly exercising the part of our brain that allows us to switch between languages. The brain is trained to be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously (St. Augustine College). Being better at multitasking makes house chores, work tasks, and to-do lists much easier. Why continue to struggle with task switching when you can literally train your brain to improve its performance?
3. A wider network to meet new friends and colleagues.
Staying within your comfort zone and limiting yourself to spending time only with people who are like you prevents you from being able to see perspectives from others who grew up in different circumstances than your own. Learning another language requires a significant amount of time and dedication – which shows others that you’re committed to communicating cross-culturally and demonstrates that you have a respect for diversity. If we only ever spent time with people who think and speak exactly the same way we do, how would we learn from others and grow to become more culturally mindful?
4. A much easier way to travel independently to foreign countries.
Who wants to rely on a travel guide to take you through every step of experiencing a foreign country? Not me!
Since my first trip to France, I made the commitment that I would attempt to learn as much French as possible to be able to get around by myself so that I wouldn’t need to rely on anyone to translate for me. I kept a little notebook in my pocket every day that I would use to write down words I heard that I didn’t recognize, that I would later look up to understand what they meant. This was a very beneficial tool for me when I traveled abroad, and would continue to use it even now, considering myself a fluent French speaker. According to unuhi.com, being bilingual makes your experience in a foreign country more immersive and authentic when you don’t have to battle with the language barrier. I can vouch for this. I spent my second trip to France mostly with newly-made French friends with whom I only spoke French – and when I didn’t understand something, I’d ask what it meant. They happily explained and we continued to enjoy each other’s company.
5. Being bilingual can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
According to UCLAhealth.org, a study was performed with about 253 Alzheimer’s patients, and those who spoke two languages proficiently could prevent dementia by about 4 years compared to those who spoke only one language. The act of consistently speaking two languages builds up a sort of armor that acts as a buffer against Alzheimer’s disease. These studies were conducted in patients across the globe, so as to suggest that the benefits resided with bilingual brains instead of an underlying external cultural factor. The stronger your mental faculties, as per the New York Times, the longer you can function normally even if your brain health begins to decline.
It’s never too late to start learning a second language.
If you’ve been wanting to learn a second language and just don’t know where to start, maybe read my post on my journey learning French and, hopefully you can draw some inspiration from my story. There are endless amounts of free resources available to you – Duolingo being one of my favorites, as well as your local bookstore being my other favorite – that make learning a second language easy and fun. I highly recommend engaging a tutor to work with you either virtually or in person to help you with things like pronunciation and conversational skills. In addition to finding a good tutor, look for a language meetup near you that might be able to help you fast-track your way to fluency.
Are there other benefits I missed? Share them in the comments below!
