Discover the amazing brain benefits of learning a new language here and get inspired to add language learning into your wellness routine!
Language learning can be both fun and challenging. However, when it comes to learning a new language, you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, and nervous. While it might seem daunting at first, it gets so much easier with time. The best part? Learning a new language brings along some amazing brain benefits!
People learn a second language for various reasons, you might want to add more to your skillset for work, study abroad, or enrich your travel experiences. Regardless of what your goal is, learning a new language is a worthwhile experience and can help you transform your personal and professional life for the better.
Here are some of the possible brain benefits of learning a new language.
1.) Helps Connect With Other Cultures
Language is a key feature of any culture. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that language helps us express ourselves and understand others better. People who can speak more than one language have a unique ability to communicate and connect with a wide range of people in their social and professional lives.
Besides, learning a new language provides you with an insight into other groups of people, their history, religion, and traditions and promotes acceptance, tolerance, and empathy with others. Research also suggests that children who can speak other languages tend to be more positive and open towards other cultures and people. There is a famous quote that says “You live a new life for every language that you speak” which sums up this benefit perfectly.
2.) Prevents Dementia
Although more research needs to be done, scientists have found that bilinguals are at a lesser risk of developing dementia-related conditions than those fluent in just one language.
This is because conversing in various languages is nothing short of a mental workout. It keeps your brain active and working, which may help delay the onset and even prevent dementia.
3.) Better Brain Growth
Although it might sound crazy, learning a new language has been linked to significant brain growth. One Swedish research suggests that MRI studies showed certain brain parts to be bigger in people who could understand more than one language.
This study was conducted on two control groups, where one group resulted in unvaried brain growth while the other exhibited a significant increase in brain size after three months. While scientists are still studying what might have caused this, I’ll happily take the bigger brain any day!
4.) Improves Academic Performance
Since learning a new language helps you improve your cognitive skills, bilingual students tend to score higher on exams relating to IQ, vocabulary, reading, and even math as compared to monolingual students.
Also, language skills help kids develop their problem-solving skills across the board, one reason why learning a foreign language is compulsory across school curriculums.
5.) Boosts Confidence
When you learn and master any new skill, it enhances your confidence levels — learning a new language is no different. When you’re able to carry a meaningful conversation with a native speaker for the first time, even if it’s just 50-seconds long, you become more self-confident because you know it wasn’t possible before. Besides, it motivates you to achieve more goals with the “Yes I can” mantra and go higher in life.
8.) Better Multi-Tasking
Studies have shown that learning to speak in a second language helps increase brain flexibility, allowing switching between tasks to be easier. Hence, bilinguals do a better job at handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
The plausible explanation is that multilingual people frequently need to switch between different languages, vocabulary, and grammar, making quick choices while speaking. As the brain becomes more adept at switching modes, it begins to apply the skill to other areas.
3.) Makes Traveling Easier
If you master a foreign language, the world can be your oyster! Learning a local language will help you communicate and interact better with locals in the area and help you navigate the country beyond the tourist bubble.
In addition, learning another language will also open doors to new opportunities and be your best friend while working, living, or studying abroad.
4.) Enhance Your Career Opportunities
But the incredible benefits of learning a new language don’t stop here! Learning a foreign language also puts your career on the fast track. Even if multilingualism isn’t mandatory in your field, having the skill will make you more valuable for your employer than your counterpart who can speak only one language.
This is because bilingual employees can connect, interact and socialize with coworkers with different ethnicities, cultures, and languages. Besides, understanding a foreign language can open new job opportunities and make you an ideal candidate for international placements.
Ready To Give Language Learning A Try, But Don’t Know Where To Start?
I have the perfect solution for you! My favorite way to study a new language is with the Pimsleur App. Pimsleur is amazing for busy people who want to effectively fit language learning into their schedules.
I love that the lessons on Pimsleur are audio-based so that I am not adding hours to my daily screen time and can multi-task if I need to. Each lesson is 30 minutes long and designed to do one per day. This app takes the guesswork out of language learning and will have you conversational in your new language in just one month. I also love that they have hundreds of unique languages to choose from!
Final Word
Regardless of your age, learning a new language provides many incredible benefits. Not only does it improve your social interactions, gives you confidence, and protects your brain, but it also boosts your concept formation, cognition, and mental flexibility.
I hope you enjoyed learning all of the amazing brain benefits of learning a new language. I would love to know, what’s the next language on your list?
Please Note: Links above do contain affiliate links that allow me to earn a small commission if you choose to purchase an item through them.
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Thank you for reading,
Jordana
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