Language is indisputably a fundamental building block of any society. Working together and living harmoniously requires communication, which in addition to body language and voice tone, usually calls for the written and spoken formats too.
As the planet becomes increasingly connected via the internet and global travel, sharing a common language helps us build bridges and turn strangers into neighbours. With approximately 7000 distinct languages around the world, and numerous learning platforms available, there are a plethora of languages to learn and an infinite number of ways to learn them. But whilst a primary motivation for language study may be to create a dialogue where one didn’t exist before, there are other aspects that often go unnoticed. So, what are the perks?
Broadening Your Perspective
Could this be the greatest benefit of learning another language? Perhaps!
Being able to speak to people from different backgrounds, cultures and locations gives us new insights. This helps us to assess our own beliefs and experiences and better empathise with others. You may not realise it at the time, but if you look back on your language learning journey in six months you may be surprised at the wonders you have discovered.
Improving Your Memory
Studying vocabulary, memorising grammar structures and practicing your enunciation can feel like a brain-drain, but fear not because these efforts aren’t futile! As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and although perfectionism may be a little far-fetched in the context of language, practicing your memorisation is expected to improve your memory overall. According to research, bilinguals are more likely to remember listed items, directions and names, amongst other things.
Helping to Protect Your Mental health
Not only can language learning improve your memory, it can also help to slow down your brain’s aging process. Once upon a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, educators believed that teaching a child an additional language would cause confusion, and that the child would master neither language effectively. Yet, low and behold, studies have shown that multi-lingualism actually helps to protect you against brain related diseases, and even promotes brain growth. In fact, having an additional language under your belt could help to delay the onset of Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease by up to five years.
Becoming More Employable
If a company is not international, then chances are, it would probably like to be. This provides fantastic potential for bilinguals who are able to bridge the gap between the company’s predominant language and the language of their target market. Moreover, speaking another language may have even afforded you cultural insights that could help a company to succeed in a new region. With international trade and travel becoming more accessible than ever, it’s no surprise that businesses would like to hire multi-lingual professionals that can help them to gain the slice of an overseas pie.
Learning More About Yourself
Studying another language is a process of trial and error. Your friend may indeed sing the praises of a new language learning software which uses mnemonics. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the phrase ‘Denis shaving on a train’ will help you to remember that the Japanese word for ‘train’ is densha. According to Peter Honey and Alan Mumford’s learning style model (P.Honey, A.Mumford, 2006), there are four different learning types: activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist, and we all have a preferred style which can change over time. So, whilst you’re trialling and error-ing, you will undoubtedly discover what does or doesn’t work for you. In turn, this may help you to understand the fantastic uniqueness of your own mind.
Expanding Your Creativity
Through finding out how your mind works, you will probably start creating new and unique ways to immerse yourself as much as possible in your target language. Whether that involves buying a Nintendo DS to play Animal Crossing in German, or drawing cartoons to support your new Arabic vocabulary. Once you get started, you will always be looking for new ways to hone your skills.
Albert Einstein: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Growing Your Self-Efficacy
You can quickly gain a sense of achievement from studying another language. Within just ten minutes you could probably acquire a new phrase or grasp a new grammar structure. Although these may only appear to be small steps towards mastering a language, let’s be honest, it feels bloody good to know that you’re making progress. Over time, these small victories will accumulate into something greater – allowing you to see how much you have progressed, and improving your confidence. Naturally, many of us reach a point where we feel our learning has stagnated, but through regular reflection you will realise: how far you’ve come, how much you’re still learning and how much potential you still have!
