Top 10 reasons why you should learn a new language
People used to think that learning two languages created confusion in the mind. Far better, it was thought, to get one right than bother with two. But research has proven the profound benefits like how a teacher in a multilingual school has to have the ability to reach out to students of different cultures, how migrants lessen the impact of adjustment if they have made an effort to learn the language of their new country in advance. Learning a foreign language enables bridging of social barriers. A person gets to enjoy social and economic benefits, as well as the mental benefits of learning a foreign language. The inspiration for this piece is mainly driven from the fact that I personally desire to be multilingual, starting with our very local languages.
In our country; Botswana, we generally lack the incentive to discover and absorb our very own languages as it seems that however dissimilar our cultures may be, we tend to say, we are Batswana. Yes, learning a new language I believe should start from the roots, so to say, people who speak SeKgalagadi should accustom themselves to the Kalanga or Tawana lingo or any other tswana language before they could try learning some French. Our local languages we must learn and be fluent enough to teach one another first. Note that please!
Brain growth
Language centres in the brain actually grow as a result of successful language learning. The better you learn, the more those vital areas of the brain grow (Mårtensson et al., 2012).
Travel and leisure
Think of the chances opened to you in the world of travel as a speaker of another language. You will be a more confident traveller in the places where your second or additional language is spoken and you will gain a lot more from travel since you will be able to communicate with local people.
Performance in other academic areas is enhanced.
Because the brain is made to operate differently, it develops a variety of cognitive skills. Studies show that the benefits of learning a new language included higher scores on standardized exams in math, reading comprehension, and vocabulary by multilingual students compared to the scores of monolingual students.
It makes a person more flexible and open to other cultures.
Since a language is a doorway to a particular culture, learning a new language enables a person to have a broader understanding of that race or culture. Opening up to a culture allows you to be more flexible and appreciative of other ways of doing and looking at things. As a result, if you are multilingual, you have the advantage of seeing the world from different vantage points. In today’s interconnectedness, this is a valuable tool.
Foreign language expands career potentials.
In today’s global economy, knowing another language really gives you a competitive edge when applying for a job. No matter what type of career you pursue, you will be more attractive to an employer if you have another language. Those who have the ability to speak and use more than one language are more likely to be able to find a job which opens up travel opportunities and chances to exchange with others. Learn a new language. There might be other employment chances you have not even considered. Perhaps you would be able to get translation or interpretative work as a summer or holiday job to use your language skills. The possibilities are out there for you when you have additional language skills
You build multitasking skills
Multilingual people, especially children, are skilled at switching between two systems of speech, writing, and structure. According to a study, this “juggling” skill makes them good multitaskers, because they can easily switch between different structures. In one study, participants used a driving simulator while doing separate, distracting tasks at the same time. The research found that people who spoke more than one language made fewer errors in their driving
Your memory improves
Educators often liken the brain to a muscle, because it functions better with exercise. Learning a language involves memorising rules and vocabulary, which helps strengthen that mental “muscle.” This exercise improves overall memory, which means that multiple language speakers are better at remembering lists or sequences. Studies show that bilinguals are better at retaining shopping lists, names, and directions.
Improved understanding of the world
Learning a new language gives you a greater global understanding of the world we live in. Even by learning a few phrases, never mind a whole language, you will access many fascinating cultures around the world and understand the differences between the two countries. You will have access to a whole new array of film, music and literature, and a greater understanding of the history and culture of the nation and ultimately a better understanding of the way the world works, including politics and security.
Improved first language
As we go about our everyday lives, we rarely give a second thought to our own grammatical structure and vocabulary. However, when learning a new language, many people find they have a greater understanding of their first language.
Learning a second language focuses your attention on the grammatical rules constructions of that language. This experience gives people a new insight into their own language and ultimately leads to them improving their mother tongue, which will improve their everyday lives.
Achievement
Learning a new language is an achievement anyone can be proud of and is extremely satisfying. Once the hard work and effort has paid off, you will experience the many benefits associated with learning a new language and you will have a new found confidence.
Learning a new language will open up our world in ways a monoglot would never have the chance of experiencing. Your mind will be constantly be engaged and you will gain an insight into many different cultures. Learning a second language also makes it easier to learn a third, which will certainly broaden your horizons.
Go out there and learn what the world has to offer!
