1) Learning a foreign language boosts brain power.

A foreign language is a whole new system with distinct rules, etymology, and meaning,
which are just a few of the complexities of a language. Learning a new one puts the brain
to task by recognizing this new language structure. As the brain works out meaning and
makes full use of this new arsenal to express ideas, it sharpens skills on reading,
negotiating, and problem-solving.
2) A persons ability to multi-task is developed.
Multi-tasking is stressful to those who are not skilled at it. People who are multilingual are
proficient at slipping from one tongue to another, one language system to another totally
different language mechanics. This is a very distracting and demanding work, not only for
the tongue and language faculties, but especially for the brain. People who have
developed this are highly proficient multi-taskers and commit very minimal error when
juggling various activities.
3) The onset of dementia and Alzheimers is stalled.
With other factors held constant, several researches suggested that multilingual adults
experienced the onset of Alzheimers and dementia at a later age of 75 compared to
monolingual adults who had the first signs at age 71. The studies were conducted with
other variables such as gender, overall health, educational level, and economic status, but
there were no significant results that contributed to the mentioned diseases as
significantly as the number of languages spoken.

4) Memory is improved.
The more the brain is used, the better its functions work. Learning a new language
structure entails familiarizing with vocabulary and rules, and applying these memorized
information into communication. This strengthens memory because the brain has built its
ability to associate information with mnemonics and retains information better. Hence
multilingual people have brains that are more exercised and quick to recall names,
directions, shopping lists.
5) The mind becomes keener.

A study conducted in Spain showed that polyglots, or multilingual people, have alert and
keen minds. They easily spot anything that is irrelevant or deceptive. The study was
conducted comparing multilingual and monolingual subjects; and the former notably had
the edge. The discipline that they developed in studying an unknown subject has molded
them to become more perceptive. Thus, they learn to be critical-thinkers.
CHECK OUT: THE EASIEST LANGUAGES TO LEARN
6) Polyglots are seen to display improved decision-making ability.
The decision-making ability becomes an easier process for multilingual people. Aside from
the rules and vocabulary that go with learning a foreign language, there are nuances and
vernacular expressions that a student of language frequently judges for appropriateness
and hidden meanings. Decision-making becomes more prudent and discriminating.
7) The first language is improved.
A student of foreign language is exposed to a whole new language structure and makes
him more conscious of vocabulary, grammar, conjugation, idioms, sentence construction,
comprehension and conversing. Learning this new mechanics is usually done juxtaposed
with English, or the first language. Hence, students become more aware of English and
develop a good ear for listening to the subtle gradations of each language. The first
language is usually not as thoroughly studied, for the simple reason that its a given. But
with the new language on the other side, a student finds it important to look at English
with more interest.
READ The Importance of Micro Goals

8) 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. These were observed in ACT
and SAT exams. Continued immersion was known to increase IQ and develop
innovativeness in students.

9) 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 todays interconnectedness, this is a valuable tool.
10) Foreign language expands career potentials.
With universal unemployment problems, a multilingual ability is definitely a competitive
edge over others. It is an ability that tells of a persons intelligence, flexibility, openness to
diverse people, and decision-making skills. And these are just bonuses to the evident
ability to communicate in several languages and cross cultural barriers.
11) It builds self-confidence.
Self-confidence is a natural consequence after summing all benefits of learning a new
language. By simply mastering one skill, the other faculties are developed. People tend to
gravitate around multilingual people because of their skills; others simply find the
polyglots openness and quick-mindedness naturally attractive.
READ: THE 6 SENTENCES TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE FAST
12) It aids in self-discovery and self-actualization.
It is an interesting outcome, not at all something that you list as your expected result
when you embark to learn a new language. But trying to understand a language and the
heritage that goes with it will put you in a position of self-discovery. It makes you come to
terms with how you view the world and other cultures, and have more appreciation of
your own. In the end, you come to terms with yourself, too.

9 Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language (+ Resources!)

1. Meet new people
One of the most phenomenal benefits of learning a new language? Doors are opened to
you around the world. If youre learning in a group setting, you immediately have new friends to
share your new language with. If not, then once you go somewhere and are actually able to
employ what youve learned, youll be surprised how open people are when you speak their
mother tongue.

2. Employers love it (and theyll love you more)

If your C.V. accolades include fluency in a second language, your chances of employment in
todays economy are much greater for you than for those who speak only one language.
Multilingual people are able to communicate and interact within multiple communities. Potential
employers consider this a valuable asset in an employees skill set, as theyre able to connect with
a broader range of people. In this new age of start-ups, companies are increasingly breaking into
new markets. You up your personal and professional value if youre able to negotiate with
manufacturers in another country or communicate with customers who dont speak your native
language.
Not to mention, your ability to speak a second language conveys that youre motivated and driven
to learn new skills, and this also gives you a competitive edge over those who havent yet become
bilingual.

3. Its becoming essential

Many would argue that bilingualism is becoming a progressively necessary and essential skill for
anyone who wants to keep up with todays rapidly increasing global economy. As more and more
people recognize the importance of learning an additional language, those who only speak one
language will begin to get left behind in our shift towards a more integrated and connected global
society.

4. Its great for traveling

Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein is credited with saying that the limits of your language
are the limits of your world, and he was right.
Knowing more than one language opens up your vacation destination possibilities. Traveling
through a foreign country becomes much easier if you can speak the language of that country.
Fluency isnt required. Locals anywhere appreciate that youve taken the time to at least attempt
to learn and communicate in their tongue. It shows a greater level of respect and is an easy way
to meet new people.
Also, getting to a comfortable speaking level in a foreign language is a great motivator to get you
out there and practicing your new language in a new country.

5. After learning one, its 1000x easier to learn another

As you begin to learn a second language, youll find that the acquisition techniques youre using
can be applied to learning additional languages as well.
The positive cognitive effects of learning to speak a second language can train the brain to
analyze and process different linguistic structures. Its not specific to your first target language
its a skill that can be applied to learning any language.
Youre increasing your ability to replicate the process with multiple languages. This is called
metalinguistic awareness, where your brain learns to identify the techniques of learning a
language and break them down into a series of steps. After learning one language, you retain the
muscle memory. Your brain will intrinsically understand how to learn a language and how different

languages are structured, through increased awareness of syntax, grammar and sentence
structure.

6. You become smarter

Acquiring a second language improves your memory and increases your attention span. The
process of becoming bilingual exercises your brain, challenges you to concentrate and boosts your
problem solving skills.
Bilingual students tend to score higher on standardized tests than monolingual students,
especially in the areas of vocabulary, reading and math. As you learn to toggle from one language
to another, you improve your multitasking abilities. Bilingual individuals have also been shown to
be more logical and rational, have better decision-making skills and be more perceptive and aware
of their surroundings.
Learning a second language also improves your native language, as it teaches you the mechanics
and structure behind any language not just new languages.

7. Youll stay smarter for longer

Recent research has shown that bilingualism can stave off the effects of Alzheimers and dementia
by years. Regardless of their education level, gender or occupation, bilingual subjects in the linked
study experienced the onset of Alzheimers, on average, 4 1/2 years later than monolingual
subjects did.
Study results out of the American Academy of Neurology are showing that speaking more than
one language increases the amount of neural pathways in the brain, allowing information to be
processed through a greater variety of channels. Theyve also begun to demonstrate that
multilingualism improves development in the brains areas of executive function and attention, no
matter what age the language learner is.

8. It boosts your creativity

Researchers are also concluding that multilingual speakers are more creative than monolingual
speakers. Learning a foreign language improves not only your ability to solve problems and to
think more logically, it also makes you experiment with new words and phrases.
Leveling up your second language skills forces you to reach for alternate words when you cant
quite remember the original one you wanted to use. It improves your skills in divergent thinking,
which is the ability to identify multiple solutions to a single problem.

9. It builds up your self-confidence

Youre about to teach yourself to believe, yes, I can. Itll become your new personal mantra.
Confidence increases when a new skill is mastered, and learning a foreign language is no different.
It increases your self-confidence. And lets face it: confident people are more interesting than
those who are unsure of themselves. The techniques you use to develop a second tongue result in
a greater sense of open-mindedness.

In order to master a new language, conversations with native and fluent speakers are essential. If
youre shy but want to meet new people, using the excuse that you want to practice your
speaking skills is a great opener and a doorway to making new friends, expanding your horizons
and broadening your life experiences. Plus, who doesnt want to be more interesting?

So, how do I get started?

Fortunately, gone are the days where the only way to learn a second language was to either
become stranded in a foreign country or go back to high school language classes (and be honest,
did you actually learn all that much in there?) There are now many different online lessons and
tutorials to help you become proficient in the language of your choice.
FluentU stands out amongst language learning websites thanks to the huge range of interactive
learning opportunities it provides.
FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news
and inspiring talks. Its all stuff that native speakers actually watch.
With FluentU, you learn real languagesthe same way that natives speak them. FluentU has a
wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:

The 5 Big Advantages to Learning Multiple Languages at Once

1. Its Good for Your Brain
Did you know that your brain can be structurally changed for the better in just three short
months?
Thats right! Swedish and German scientists conducted a study on conscript interpreterspeople
who deal with multiple languages as part of their daily jobsand measured the size of each ones
hippocampus and cerebral cortex. They then subjected these interpreters to three months of
intensive language studies. Military boot camp style!
After 90 days of intense training, the scientists, donning their spotless lab coats, came in and
again measured their subjects brains. They discovered that their interpreters hippocampal
regions, along with three other areas of the cortex, had grown significantly. The cortical areas
increased in their thickness, indicating higher fire power for these areas of the brain.
Learning multiple languages isnt only about increasing brain mass, it improves memory as well.
Psychologist set out to determine the cognitive differences between monolingual and bilingual
children, or if any even existed.
They subjected the children to a battery of mental tasks which measured working memory,
executive function, visuospatial span, cognitive quickness and conflict resolution. What they
discovered was very telling indeed. Bilingual children outclassed their monolingual counterparts in
all test conditions. In short, people who grow up bilingual have faster, more accurate and more
robust mental capacities.
If you want your kids to have a head start in life, start them young on the road to learning multiple
languages.

Lastly, its been known that just speaking a second language can delay the onset of Alzheimers
Disease. One study has shown that being bilingual, as opposed to being monolingual, may delay
the onset of dementia for a good 5.1 years.
The brain is like a muscle. The more you use it, the sharper and stronger it gets. Multilingual
people have the advantage of having brains that are in good shape. The benefits of switching
back and forth between languages is priceless.
They have brains that need to recognize, distinguish and analyze the different linguistic patterns,
intonations, vocabulary, grammatical rules and idiomatic expressions of different languages.
Because of that need to do more, they have well-oiled neurons which are less prone to the
detrimental effects of old age.

2. It Saves Precious Time

Imaging that youre travelling in South America and get lost while on the way to officiate a
wedding. Youre standing at an actual crossroad and looking up at two signs. The left one says
Una Via (One Way), the one on the right says, Camino Cerrado Delante (Road Closed Ahead).
Can you imagine how much driving time youd save simply knowing what those signs mean?
How about finding yourself at a French mall and badly needing to go to the restroom because your
tummy disagreed with the escargot you had for lunch. Can you imagine looking at foreign signs
that would score 70 points in Scrabble? Or imagine finding yourself trying to communicate with
French men who fake not knowing any English, desperately gesturing and asking where the rest
room is.
Wouldnt life be much easier if you could communicate while abroad in France or Spain? That way
youd make the most of your 5-day vacation instead of spending half of it looking for some dingy
rest room.
If learning a second language is such a time saver, how about learning a third and a
fourth language? Imagine how much of the world you could navigate!
That being said, learning more than one language at a time requires careful planning
and an awesome strategy.
There are two ways of studying multiple languages.
One way is sequentially and the other is simultaneously. The methods are right in the names.
Doing multiple languages at the same time (simultaneously) saves time because, in a way, youre
multitasking. Instead of getting fluent in one language in 1.5 years, you become fluent in 2
languages in 2 years.

3. You Can Take Full Advantage of Similarities and Differences Between Languages
One advantage of learning multiple languages at once is that you can play the languages off of
one another. You can take notice of (and better remember) the eccentricities of a language by
noting its similarities or differences with another tongue.

An example of this are the many cognates shared by romance languages. Cognates are words in
different languages that share similar spelling, meaning and pronunciation. Examples in French
Italian Spanish are:
a) ARM
French: le bras
Italian: il braccio
Spanish: el brazo
b) FEVER
French: la fivre
Italian: la febbre
Spanish: la fiebre
c) TONGUE
French: la langue
Italian: la lingua
Spanish: la lengua
If you notice, the spelling, meaning and pronunciation of these words (and many, many others)
are similar for French, Italian and Spanish, indicating that they have a common etymology.
Cognates are very useful for 2 major things.
1. Vocabulary building. Lets say youre studying French, Italian and Spanish simultaneously. In
the examples above, instead of building your vocabulary in just one language, youre building it
for 3 at the price of 1.
2. Contextualizing. Cognates are very useful for contextualizing. As Ive said, you can play the
languages off of one another. For example, your new Italian friend told you over the phone, lets
meet on sabato. The problem is, youre not sure if sabato is a newly-opened Italian restaurant
downtown. Fortunately, you do know that sbado is Saturday in Spanish.
In short, knowing a second language puts you at a definite advantage in learning a third or a
fourth one. So, why learn it serially when you can do it simultaneously?

4. Tackling Multiple Languages Keeps You From Getting Bored

Another advantage of learning languages simultaneously is that it keeps you alive and alert on the
task.

Tired of differentiating ser from estar? Sick of Buenas dias? Try a little Anyong Haseyo and
discover a whole new soul in the Korean language.
Tired of watching Spanish telenovelas or listening to Latin songs? Try some of the awesome
Japanese drama series that currently populate the internet.
By the way, if you like learning languages through fun, native language videos, then youll want to
check out FluentU. FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news, and
inspiring talks, and turns them into learning lessons. It lets you learn using fun videos and realworld context. FluentU is available for Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and English,
and one subscription gives you access to all languages.
Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the
FluentU app from the iTunes store.

You dont have to bury yourself for months on end in a single language. There always comes a
point in any language learners endeavors when they finally plateau and get sick of the lessons.
You can either barrel through that phase, or you can refresh yourself by getting into another
language. Dont think of it as quitting, think of it as productively redirecting your language
learning energies. Whats important is that you can have several language mistresses on the

side. It keeps things interesting. This works especially well for languages that are so different, they
are like a breath of fresh air.

5. It Opens Opportunities for Employment, Romance and Multicultural Understanding

Learning a 2nd language broadens employment opportunities. Being a multilingual compounds
your prospects and give you a sharp edge in the job market. (The truth is, even when you wont be
using Swedish, Norwegian, Danish in your work. But writing those on your resume makes you
stand out from the rest of the English-only crowd. Cool, huh?)
Over the next decade, Spanish and Chinese speaking skills will be one of the most critical skills
sought for by recruiters.
As globalism surges forward, it makes learning multiple languages ever more essential. English
isnt enough anymore. A great number of international corporations arent based in Englishspeaking countries. In addition, US-based corporations are waking up to the fact that in order to
flourish in the emerging markets, they have to learn how to say Ni Hao and not just How are
you?
On the romantic end, youll be ready to start a bilingual relationship. When your significant other
has a different first language than you, what better way is there to express affection than learning
romantic phrases in their native tongue? Sorry is just different when you say lo siento. And
who knows, she might just forgive you.
Speaking your loves language brings you to their reality of things. It promotes understanding
between you and your significant other. As you know, different languages are also connected to
diverse perspectives of the world we live in. By speaking their words, you put yourself in their
shoes for a minute.
At the very least, youll know that weve got your backs while you tackle all your target languages.

5 Reasons to Learn Languages

by Paul Taylor
Whether you are fascinated by another country's culture or considering taking a foreign
language for work or school, learning a new language offers lifelong benefits. Technology
and globalization provide opportunities to engage with others from around the world like
never before. If you have had little exposure to another language, here are five reasons
why studying foreign languages may interest you:
1. Learning has never been easier
In the past, language enthusiasts had to take formal classes or find someone willing to
offer private lessons or language exchanges. Today, you can learn languages from the
comfort of your home thanks to television, software, and the Internet.
2. Gain insight into other cultures

Once you understand the nuance behind a language, you begin to understand its culture.
You may read or hear about another country, but fluency opens the door to its people.
Comprehension can expose you to foreign books, films, and music -- even your favorite
opera. You may also feel more comfortable hosting an exchange student or foreign
travelers.
3. Enhance your foreign excursions
Maps and guidebooks point you to tourist attractions, but the locals can help you find the
best places off the beaten path. When you can have a conversation in a native language,
people are less hesitant to speak with you and more inclined to help you, which may also
come in handy during emergencies.
4. Become more valuable at work
Companies are doing more business with international customers, increasing the need for
employees with diverse language skills. You may be asked to travel abroad to close a
business deal or improve customer relationships. Not only is it a paid trip to a foreign
country, it increases your value and could lead to more opportunities in the future.
Whether you are translating documents, writing a letter to a foreign customer, or
interpreting an important conversation, fluency in another language gives you an edge at
work.
5. Keep your mind engaged
Learning a new language requires memorization and repetition to commit new words and
phrases to memory. Becoming a student again also reinforces your understanding of your
native language. Simple techniques inherent in learning will keep your mind nimble and
your skills sharp.
The world has become smaller, and your exposure to foreign languages will continue to
increase. You may consider learning languages as a fun hobby or to keep in touch with the
changing world around you, but your reward comes when you can connect with other
cultures.

Why learn a foreign language?

Physiological studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The
brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer several
mental benefits.
Below are seven cognitive advantages to learning a foreign language. Many of these attributes are only apparent in
people who speak multiple languages regularly if you havent spoken a foreign tongue since yourA levels, your
brain might not be reaping these bilingual benefits. However, people who begin language study in their adult lives can
still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits, too.

You become smarter

Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate
meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other
problem-solving tasks as well.
Students who study foreign languages tend to score better on standardised tests than their monolingual peers,
particularly in the categories of maths, reading, and vocabulary.

You build multitasking skills

Multilingual people, especially children, are skilled at switching between two systems of speech, writing, and
structure. According to a study from the Pennsylvania State University, 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.

You stave off Alzheimers and dementia

Several studies have been conducted on this topic, and the results are consistent. For monolingual adults, the mean
age for the first signs of dementia is 71.4. For adults who speak two or more languages, the mean age for those first
signs is 75.5. Studies considered factors such as education level, income level, gender, and physical health, but the
results were consistent.

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.

You become more perceptive

A study from Spains University of Pompeu Fabra revealed that multilingual people are better at observing their
surroundings. They are more adept at focusing on relevant information and editing out the irrelevant. Theyre also
better at spotting misleading information. Is it any surprise that Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are skilled
polyglots?

Your decision-making skills improve

According to a study from the University of Chicago, bilinguals tend to make more rational decisions. Any
language contains nuance and subtle implications in its vocabulary, and these biases can subconsciously influence
your judgment. Bilinguals are more confident with their choices after thinking it over in the second language and
seeing whether their initial conclusions still stand up.

You improve your English

Learning a foreign language draws your focus to the mechanics of language: grammar, conjugations, and
sentence structure. This makes you more aware of language, and the ways it can be structured and manipulated.
These skills can make you a more effective communicator and a sharper editor and writer. Language speakers also
develop a better ear for listening, since theyre skilled at distinguishing meaning from discreet sounds.

Learning different languages can open the portals to appreciating the diversity and
richness of human experience.
Even if an elephant becomes thin, can it be held in a cowshed? If this question is asked in English, one might feel
that it either merits a status of pure genius or utter madness! However, when posed in Malayalam, this question
changes its avatar and becomes a philosophical musing. While the basic function of a language is communication,
opening ones mind to learning several languages can have many of benefits.

We live in a country that speaks 26 official languages and 724 recorded dialects, contributing to the fact that most of
us are able to communicate in more than one language. In fact, it is not uncommon to find young children speaking
up to three or four languages on a daily basis. It is fascinating to watch a six-year-old singing a rhyme in English,
speaking to her grandmother in Bengali, addressing a shopkeeper in Tamil and reading a sign in Kannada. Research
has shown the neurological benefits of learning a language and how it activates various neural networks. These
contribute to an overall feeling of wellbeing and health.
Cultural expressions
Language is one of the ways a culture expresses itself. It weaves a rich tapestry of a cultures ideas, philosophy and
ways of looking at the world. By learning a new language, one is opening the portals to understanding and
appreciating the diversity and richness of human experience. This is seen in the colloquial expressions, proverbs and
stories that each culture uniquely holds on to.
Many years ago an artist shared a humorous experience. She was interviewed on a radio programme in a regional
language and she found herself literally translating her replies from English. While she was grammatically sound, she
said she was amused by the tone of the conversation. In English, it is common to respond from an individual
perspective. I have achieved this, whereas saying the same in the regional language comes across as being
arrogant! In that particular language schemata, one does not talk about oneself while talking about ones
accomplishments, but always refers to it in the third person. Inadvertently, she said she sounded far superior than she
felt at the time of the interview!
Workplace benefits

These subtle differences in ideology have become increasingly important in todays world. With workplaces becoming
globalised, these cultural differences are being valued. Companies look for people who have the skills not only to
speak the language, but navigate through cross cultural diversity. Learning a foreign language has become the norm,
and the mushrooming of language programmes and centres is evidence that learning a language has become
increasingly popular. In the creative industry (advertising, filmmaking), exposure to a language and its idioms
contribute to new ideas and alternative ways of telling a story. In the race to look for a new idea, many people are
going back to their roots and looking at new ways of presenting the familiar. Recently, the famous comedian Russell
Brand instantly connected with his audience in Bengaluru when he used a string of colourful Kannada words in his
show!
Language of the heart
While languages are meant to communicate, all of us have been victims of misunderstanding arising out of gaps in
communication. Often, our communication is so loaded with judgement and opinions that we do not really listen to
what is being said and choose our words unwisely. History has shown that wars have started on the basis of this
discrepancy.
The path of many masters and spiritual guides has shown us that there is a universal language of the heart, one that is
steeped in compassionate silence. In our own lives, we have seen or heard numerous beautiful stories of differences
being bridged through this power. We might build a tower of babble to separate ourselves from our neighbours, but
the power of understanding beyond silence can break down the walls in a second.

"I speak English, so I don't have to learn a foreign language...."

Everyone speaks English, right? Well, certainly not everyone speaks English. According to
the CIA World Fact Book, only 5.6 % of the world's total population speaks English as a
primary language. That number doubles when people who speak English as a second or
third language are counted. By conservative estimates, that means that well over fourfifths of the world's population does not speak English.
It's true that English has become a global lingua franca over the past several decades.
This fact, however, really should have little effect on your decision to learn a foreign
language. The attitude that English alone is enough in fact creates self-imposed
limitations. To remain monolingual is to stunt your educational development, to restrict
your communication and thinking abilities, and to deny yourself the ability to fully
appreciate and understand the world in which you live. Learning another language opens
up new opportunities and gives you perspectives that you might never have encountered
otherwise. Personal, professional, social, and economic considerations all point to the
advantages of learning foreign languages. Still not convinced? Here are 10 very good
reasons why you should be learning a foreign language:

1. To increase global understanding

"... [E]ffective communication and successful negotiations with a foreign partner--whether with a partner in peacekeeping, a
strategic economic partner, a political adversary, or a non-English speaking contact in a critical law enforcement action
--requires strong comprehension of the underlying cultural values and belief structures that are part of the life experience of the
foreign partner." - Dr. Dan Davidson, President of the American Councils on International Education
"A different language is a different vision of life." - Federico Fellini, Italian film director

"No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive." - Mohandas K. Gandhi, Indian nationalist and spiritual leader

Learning another language gives the learner the ability to step inside the mind and context of that other culture.
Without the ability to communicate and understand a culture on its own terms, true access to that culture is barred.
Why is this important? In a world where nations and peoples are ever more dependent upon on another to supply
goods and services, solve political disputes, and ensure international security, understanding other cultures is
paramount. Lack of intercultural sensitivity can lead to mistrust and misunderstandings, to an inability to cooperate,
negotiate, and compromise, and perhaps even to military confrontation. Intercultural understanding begins with
individuals who have language abilities and who can thereby provide one's own nation or community with an
insider's view into foreign cultures, who can understand foreign news sources, and give insights into other
perspectives on international situations and current events. For survival in the global community, every nation needs
such individuals. A person competent in other languages can bridge the gap between cultures, contribute to
international diplomacy, promote national security and world peace, and successfully engage in international trade.
As globalization and mobility and communications are bring the world ever closer together, ever more urgent is the
need for global citizens to be competent in other languages. The United States is the only industrialized country that
routinely graduates students from high school who lack knowledge of a foreign language. Whereas 52.7% of
Europeans are fluent in both their native tongue and at least one other language, only 9.3% of Americans are fluent in
both their native tongue and another language. This statistic does not bode well for the future of America in a global
society. The upward trend in language learning must accelerate if the U.S. is to continue to be a major participant on
the international stage.

For a Better Brain, Learn Another Language

The cognitive benefits of multilingualism

Theres a certain sinking feeling one gets when thinking of the perfect thing to
say just a moment too late. Perhaps a witty parting word could have made all
the difference. There is no English word to express this feeling, but the French
have the term lesprit de lescaliertranslated, stairwell witfor this very
phenomenon.

Nor is there an English word to describe the binge eating that follows an emotional blow, but the Germans
have kummerspeckgrief-baconto do just that. If we had the Swedish word lagomwhich means
something is just rightthe English explanation of Goldilocks perfectly temperate soup could have been a lot
more succinct. Or the term koi no yokan, a poetic Japanese turn of phrase that expresses the feeling of knowing
that you will soon fall in love with the person you have just met. Its not love at first sight so much as an
understanding that love is inevitable. Keats and Byron could have really used a word like that.
There have been numerous studies pointing to the benefits of learning a new language. Yet, recent
study shows that only 18% of Americans can fluently speak two or more languages.
Part of the reason is that learning a new language only becomes an interest to us once we reach
adulthood, and we mistakenly think that its impossible to acquire a new language at a certain age.
While its not a walk in the park, nearly anyone can learn a new language with a bit of motivation and
diligence.
Some people have more aptitude for learning languages, including children, and we shouldnt let it
discourage us from continuing to improve.

People vary in their aptitude like they do in learning math or in playing basketball,Dr.
Robert
DeKeyser, Professor of Second Language Acquisition
If you need more reasons to motivate yourself to learn a new language, here are 7 unusual benefits
backed by science.
1. You will improve your native languages
Its only when we learn a new language, that we can appreciate the roots and
fundamentals of our native language.
This is because we grew up speaking our native language, without much thought in terms
of how sentence structures worked or breaking down the accents for each syllable.
According to the Impact of the Second Language Education, studying a second language
alone will significantly improve grammar, reading, vocabulary, and speaking skills of your
first language.
Its similar to playing basketball your whole life, then learning how to play volleyball, and
using those skills to improve your basketball game.
You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.
Geoffrey Willans
2. Enhances your focus
In a study, published online in the journal Brain and Language, individuals who spoke
more than one language were observed through an fMRI, while performing word
comprehension tasks.
Results showed that multi-lingual individuals were better at filtering out competing words
than one-language speaking individuals. This ability to tune out competing words benefits
in blocking out distractions to focus on the task at hand.
Luckily for us, studies have shown that even those of us with minimal knowledge of a
secondary language can reap the advantages of these traits.
3. Prevents common brain diseases
Hopefully non of us have to worry about this anytime soon, but aging is something that is
common in all of us.
When it comes to the brain, learning a foreign language can prevent or delay Alzheimers
disease and dementia by 4.5 years. This is a far more powerful than the best drugs which
only delays the symptoms by 612 months.

The American Academy of Neurology has performed studies showing that speaking more
than one language increases the amount of neural pathways in the brain, allowing
information to be processed through a greater variety of channels.
4. Improve your math skills
A powerful study was done at Massachusetts in 2007, where The American Council on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages stated that:
Children who study a foreign language, even when this second language study takes
time away from the study of mathematics, outperform students who do not study a
foreign language and have more mathematical instruction during the school day.
In another study published in the University of Michigans Language Learning journal
(Armstrong and Rogers, 1997), students who studied just one semester of a foreign
language for just 90 minutes per week scored significantly higher in maths and language
arts.
In hindsight, this makes sense because learning the foundations of a new language
involves logical and structural thinking. Memorization techniques, such as Mnemonics
in language learning, can also play a big role in mathematics, as you need to memorize
complicated equations on a frequent basis.
5. Learn anything faster
In the same study done at Massachusetts in 2007, the researchers have concluded that
the exercise in cognitive problem solving through language learning can be directly
applied to anything we want to learn.
Your memory retention is also improved when you learn a new language. Absorbing and
retaining more information can significantly shorten your learning curve, because you can
spend more time learning new information instead of re-learning something youve
already seen before.
Lastly, since distraction is inevitable in our learning journey, those who have the ability to
multi-task and focus will have the upperhand. Bilinguals have been studied and
reported to be better multi-taskers than the average individual.
5. Become more outgoing and liked by others
Language learning is not only about speaking a new language, but its about experiencing
a new culture.
The first reason is that meeting foreign people is embedded in the core of language
learning. In order to practice and improve your new language, youll need to work with a

native speaking teacher (or coach on Rype), use conversation exchanges, or attend
language meetups. This is similar to how you need to just ride the bicycle instead of
watching videos about it, its just part of the process.
The experience gained from speaking with language conversation partners is basically the
same as meeting anyone. The skills of being outgoing and sociable are directly
transferable to other areas of your life.
Most importantly, learning a language helps you step into the shoes of people different to
yourself and see the world in a completely different perspectivetherefore developing
empathy for others.
The majority of conflicts between people in the world comes from lack of understanding
the other side. Studying a new language not only helps you understand where the other
person is coming from, but the cultural knowledge you gain can help the others feel more
connected to you.
6. Double your creativity
When speaking a new language, youre often forced to think of an alternative word that
youre not used to using.
We often have to puzzle together words to form a sentence until it fits and makes sense to
the other person. It improves your divergent think skills, training you to think of multiple
solutions to problems on a consistent basis.
This out of the box experimentation practice is why researchers have concluded
that multilingual individuals are more creative than monolingual individuals.
7. It boosts your confidence level
When we set out to achieve something and find success, it boosts our confidence levels
no matter how small the success.
Even being able to carry a 30-second conversation with a native speaker can significantly
make you more confident, because you know its something you wouldnt have been able
to do before.
This yes, I can! mentality will become your personal mantra, and can be applied to any
goal you want to achieve in your life.
Author of Lean Forward, Eric Holtzclaw, has stated that even a tiny change in your
perspective that pulls you out of a funk and gives you the boost you need to take on that
next challenge.

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any
experience that reveals the human spirit. E.E. Cummings

In "Tips for Staying Competitive in a Global Job Market" I suggested adding at least one
other language to your skill set. In an increasingly globalized economy, being a polyglot is
definitely advantageous for corporate success.The benefits of effective communication
across multiple languages have long been known by the international business community
as an indispensable tool for relationship building and financial success.
In fact, those entering the workforce in 2014 with second language fluency can expect an
additional 10 to 15 percent pay increase, according to Ryan McMunn, language expert and
CEO of BRIC Language Systems. McMunn says, "I never would have been successful in
China had I not learned how to speak Mandarin. By learning a second language, I had an
opportunity to develop relationships with Chinese executives and conduct business in
ways that otherwise would not have been possible."
He offers an example from his experience dealing with a product recall involving his
former employer in China. He advised his team to proceed with caution while they
searched for a solution based on the "guanxi," the concept of personal connections. At the
time, McMunn had already developed a strong relationship with the factory owner and his
family through many business and casual conversations in Mandarin. Over their five-year
friendship, McMunn helped the owner's son get into an American school, and the owner
helped McMunn establish relationships with other local business leaders.
When it came time to negotiate recall costs, McMunn's company company treated the
factory as a partner rather than simply a vendor. Their negotiations were completely
conducted in Mandarin, and started with a discussion about families: How the factory
owner's son was doing in the U.S. and how McMunn's sister was enjoying her new job. The
five-hour marathon meeting ended better than McMunn could have hoped. The factory
owner agreed to pay half the cost of the recall over the following year, and abided by the
arrangement. The relationship between the two companies improved since the incident,
and business flourished with a substantial growth in customers.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.]
McMunn credits much of his success abroad to his language skills.
Hal Johnson, a senior adviser and former chairman of global human resources at Korn
Ferry, frequently counsels business school students and corporate executives about ways
to stay on top of their careers. He frequently urges job seekers to learn Mandarin "as soon
as they can, if they want to get a leg up on their competition and accelerate their futures.
Anything that helps or speeds up their preparation can be a significant plus!"
Arvind Chary, managing principal of Atlas Real Estate Partners, has been more focused on
hiring multilingual employees as his company expands into markets with large Spanish
speaking populations. He says, "We have been raising more capital from abroad and need
employees who can communicate with our foreign investors. I would encourage anyone to
learn a second language in order to advance their career opportunities."

[See a collection of political cartoons on immigration.]

I advise learning additional languages as early as possible. Not only is the skill easier to
pick up when young, it will also boost mental aptitude during the school years leading up
to eventual employment. According to Dr. Judy Willis, a board-certified neurologist,
children who are exposed to multiple languages at an early age are able to activate
certain networks within the brain that enhance cognitive function. "Compared to
monolinguals, the studied bilingual children, who had had five to 10 years of bilingual
exposure, averaged higher scores in cognitive performance on tests and had greater
attention focus, distraction resistance, decision-making, judgment and responsiveness to
feedback," says Willis, citing a 2009 study by psychologist Ellen Bialystok. The brain
networks that Willis references are known as the "CEO networks" which regulate executive
functions such as goal setting and achieving, planning, memory, analysis, inhibitory
control and judgment.
Biologically speaking, in a study by neuroimaging researcher and analyst Cathy Price of
the University College London, bilinguals have more gray matter in the portion of the
brain that is suspected to be associated with vocabulary acquisition. Price explains that
when an individual is learning a second language, the vocabulary acquisition portion of
the brain is literally getting a workout. Much like any other muscle you may work out in
the gym, the brain will become stronger, thus becoming stimulated for growth. Increased
gray matter means that the brain will work faster and more efficiently. Language learning
is described as a kind of re-wiring of the brain which can form new neurons and
connections among the intellectual network. So adding another language to your skill set
is simply smart.
Lisa Chau is the Founder of Alpha Vert, a private consultancy focused on social media and
crossplatform marketing. Previously, she spent five years working for her alma mater
Dartmouth College, as assistant director of alumni affairs and assistant director of PR for
the Tuck School of Business. She has also taught at MIT, and guest lectured MBA and
undergraduate courses in e-business strategy at Baruch College and The New School.
Money, dream jobs, a better brain and all the other benefits: why learn a foreign
language

With more online learning resources available than we know what to do with,
theres really no reason for you to not know a second language.

Being bilingual not only gives you some fun bragging rights, but it also gives you the
benefit of standing out in the increasingly competitive job market.

So. Much. Tech.

Some of the biggest names in tech are coming to TNW Conference in Amsterdam this May.

Learning a second language can pave the way for salary increases and open up tons of
amazing job opportunities that would be far beyond reach for someone who only knows
one language. But it doesnt stop there. Did you know it can help keep your brain healthy,
for longer?

If youve ever considered learning a second language, below are just some of the many
reasons why you should finally commit to becoming bilingual.

Benefits of being bilingual: earning more money

Todays job market is tough.
Even with the recent addition of 295,000 U.S. jobs, there are still many people
seeking full-time positions who simply cant find them and are forced to take part-time
jobs instead. On top of that, job openings arent very readily available for people with
degrees outside of the STEM industries (this is especially true for recent college grads.).
The result of few jobs and lots of applicants means getting a full-time position today
requires the ability to stand out from other, equally qualified candidates. Learning a
second language is one way that you can make that jump to stand out.
For the already-employed reader, knowing a second language can lead to salary bonuses.
The exact value of bonuses earned from knowing another language is debatable.
One Freakonomics podcast suggests that English-speaking Americans who learn a foreign
language can expect to earn only about $600 more than someone who knows only
English. However, as this Economist article points out, even small language bonuses can
add up over time.
Supposing you only earn a 2 percent language bonus on your salary, you easily stand to
earn an additional $25,000 during your career (likely more with salary increases).
Whats more, salary bonuses vary depending on the exact language in which youre
proficient. Heres a quick breakdown of a few different secondary languages and their
annual bonuses as reported by The Economist:

Spanish 1.5 percent bonus

French 2.3 percent bonus

German 3.8 percent bonus

While you may want to take these figures into account when deciding on a secondary
language to learn, this list by no means needs to dictate you decision.
You can learn any language and still find career benefits. There are tons of amazing job
opportunities for people with various secondary language skills. The next section
highlights just a few.

Knowing a second language gives you awesome job opportunities

Aside from potentially working as for a company or individual, you can find unique and
fun career opportunities in a variety of different fields.
Below are some of the (in my opinion) coolest jobs you could get with knowledge of
another language.
Game Translator for Nintendo

Get paid to translate the in-game text, manuals and more for Nintendo of America, Inc.
There are six openings for a Japanese to English translator right now, but its also not
unlikely that the company would need similar translators for other languages also.

See the job posting here.

TV Subtitler for Cinematext Media USA Want to translate Spanish TV shows to
English? Cinematext Media is affiliated with large American networks like TNT,
Cartoon Network, MTV and a variety of big-name Spanish-only channels.
See the job posting here.
Anime Translator for Crunchyroll Love to watch anime? You can get paid to translate
Japanese subtitles and text to English for the manga and anime mega-giant, Crunchyroll.
See the job posting here. Similar jobs are also available for English to
Italian andEnglish to Arabic translations.
Community Representative for Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard, who produces
well-known video games like WoW and Diablo, is looking for a bilingual Spanish/English
speaker to engage with their Latin American player communities. The job includes
helping with game development and supporting the company at events, including
BlizzCon.
See the job posting here.
Brand Specialist for Google Notorious for being a great company to work for with lots
of extra perks, Google is looking for a brand specialist fluent in German and English to
help manage German market clients. Brand specialists work with customers and larger
regional teams to assist in ongoing Google product improvements.

See the job posting here.

Are you dying to learn a new language yet? Maybe these additional benefits of becoming
bilingual will finally convince you.

Speaking more than one language protects against Alzheimers and dementia
Studies have shown that adults who speak two or more languages experience the onset of
Alzheimers and dementia later than monolingual adults. This mental health advantage
even extended to people who were illiterate, meaning that simply knowing how to speak
two languages is beneficial even if you cant read.

Bilingualism improves decision making

Learning a second language has also been shown to help eliminate some biases that can
otherwise muddle our decision-making processes. Interestingly, the most common bias

eliminated is our consideration for potential losses, which can cause us to ignore
promising opportunities when there is any risk of loss present.
For people who learn a second language during adulthood, this bias tends to decrease,
causing researchers to suggest that our rational mind takes the lead when we make
decisions in a language that isnt our native one.

Improves your memory and attention span

Lastly, taking the time to learn a second language can have some very positive sideeffects on your attention span and memory. A study conducted by Northwestern
University in 2012 showed that knowing multiple languages forces your brain to pay
attention to relevant sounds, while blocking out irrelevant sounds. The study provided the
first biological evidence that being bilingual improves your hearing and helps with
attention span and working memory.
Learning a second language may seem intimidating to adults who have been monolingual
their entire lives. In fact, many of us were told at one time or another that becoming
proficient in a new language is unlikely for beginning adult learners.
Yet, research from the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that adults learning a foreign
language are completely capable of becoming highly proficient in it.
Theres really no reason not to learn another language. Even if you like your current job
and find your pay suitable, wouldnt you at least like to stave off memory loss and make
better decisions?
Start thinking about the language youd like to learn today, and tell us what you decide on
in the comments section below.

Many other countries teach multiple languages in schools, but not New Zealand.
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OPINION: Regrets? I've had a few. In my experience, most people's biggest regret is either not learning a musical instrument or a foreign
language.
Thanks to our country's wonderful free Saturday morning music classes I don't fall into the first category but definitely fall into the second.
When I entered secondary school the only language on offer was French. Back then it was often taught as a written language.
There was lots of rote learning and little speaking. As a result I was a far from ideal pupil.
Today some foreign languages are in decline in schools and universities as students pursue more 'useful' subjects like commerce.
This is a pity as languages exercise different parts of the brain than other subjects and can be great fun. Yet it used to be said that if you
wanted to incur the wrath of Kiwis then just speak really loudly on a bus in a foreign language.

Even some politicians complain about not being able to hear English spoken on Queen St. Boo-hoo!
In other countries similar areas - such as San Francisco's Chinatown, New York's Little Italy and London's Brick Lane - are tourist
attractions.
So why are we such a monolingual little nation?
Island nations are separated by sea so there is a physical barrier. That's why the English also suffer from monolingualism.
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And English speakers get an easy time overseas as ours is often the language of money. That foreigner speaking English is not doing it
because they love the sound but because they know it's a great way to make a buck.
Maori is an official language yet there are no government moves to make it compulsory.
Forget that kids in Europe are often learning 2 or 3 extra languages, we can't even handle one.
I have heard all the arguments against compulsory Maori, usually made by Pakeha.
Yet Education Minister Hekia Parata is also against compulsion saying that it hinders interest.
Does her theory apply to Maths or English as well as Maori? Or are they more 'important' so must remain compulsory?
Some Pakeha feel very threatened by the idea of their kids learning Maori. Yet learning a language is a great way to understand a culture
and often dispels racist myths. Is that what these parents are afraid of?
Not that all Pakeha are against Te Reo Maori. Most of us can struggle through a verse of the anthem and we all love the haka.
Recently in Europe I attended a soiree (which is the French word for soiree) with some other Kiwis. After a sub-dignitary played the piano
we responded with a verse of Pokarekare ana.
Yes, a token gesture, but five of the six singing were Pakeha. The Europeans, who are fascinated by Maori culture, loved it. Can you
imagine a bunch of Australians singing an aboriginal chant?
For an English speaker the European languages have the advantage of similar origins. It's quite easy filling out a questionnaire in France
when you realise that the French word for questionnaire is questionnaire.
China is our biggest trading partner so why aren't more people learning Mandarin and other Asian languages? One reason is that it's
difficult for English speakers to hear the different tones.
In Vietnamese, one word can have six different meanings depending on the tone.
A Vietnamese friend told me about his Australian mate who mistakenly called his girlfriend's mother a cow because he used the wrong
tone (or did he)? That's why starting Kiwi kids young on Asian languages, as well as Maori, would be a brilliant move.
Speaking a foreign language is useful when you are in a non-English-speaking country, or in your own country in the case of Maori, but it
goes further.
It can also be a political statement. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd doesn't have a great reputation amongst New
Zealanders but as a fluent Mandarin speaker he made enormous progress in relations with China.
By promoting language learning in schools, and learning Maori and other languages themselves, the inhabitants of our little islands could
make a great statement, not only to our indigenous people but to our friends and potential trading partners in the rest of the world.