Why You Should Learn a Second Language

It’s exciting and challenging to learn a new language in order to expand your horizons. Some people believe learning another language is unnecessary since they can communicate with others in English. However, there are instances when English communication is not possible.

There are increasing levels of international business, trade, tourism, immigration and other cross-cultural experiences. You may eventually meet someone who speaks English but struggles to understand it. There are many reasons to learn another language. Although you don’t have to be a multilingual expert, there are still many reasons language learning is meaningful.

This post will discuss why learning foreign languages is important even if you only use them occasionally.

1.Learning new language: It’s good for the brain

This is a perk of learning another language. Research in the New York Times has shown that being bilingual actually makes one smarter.

Learn a foreign language at any stage of your life to help you discover new things. It is difficult to learn a language. This challenge can help you develop additional skills. Your brain will work faster and more efficiently if you are able to practice learning.

Lifelong learners have many advantages

• Cognitive ability increases
• Memory that is better
• Sharper reasoning skills
• Creativity is improved
• Increased problem-solving abilities
• Increased attention span
• Greater self-discipline

Studies show that even if you don’t speak the language, speaking another language can help improve your cognitive abilities. According to Harvard University researchers, bilingual babies were more able to anticipate and respond to changes in the environment than those born to families who only speak one language.

A University of Chicago study showed that thinking in a foreign language helps reduce biases in decision-making. There’s even research that has demonstrated that being bilingual can help delay the onset and appearance of Alzheimer’s symptoms.

2. This makes you more competitive for a job

You shouldn’t give up on your chances of getting a job in a highly competitive market. It’s more than just about filling out your resume. There’s a good chance that you will work with people whose native language is not English, as globalization is in full swing. It could be a team of developers in India, a factory in China or an alternative energy supplier to Germany. 

David Goodman-Smith is the managing partner of China Study Abroad (18505). This full-service agency is based in Beijing. He says that his company’s fastest-growing group of students is people who are looking to improve their employment opportunities.

Mandarin is a great way to add a competitive edge to your CV. He explains that companies are increasingly looking for these types of experiences.

3. It allows you to stay in touch with your family

You can connect more with your family members by learning their native language. You will learn to communicate with your family members in their native language. They will also be able to tell you things that they might not be able to explain in English.

You can also learn more about their culture, history and traditions just by talking to them every day, especially if you have many generations. This information will allow you to better understand your family and the reasons they behave as they do. It may also help strengthen your relationship with them and provide insight into your personality and what makes you unique.

4. It improves overseas travel

Learning a foreign language makes travelling easier since you can communicate with locals and understand menus and signs. Because of its practical application, the US Defense Language Institute (DLI), recommends that military personnel learn a foreign language. DLI’s website says:

If your travel plans are not limited to English-speaking countries you will likely want to learn another language to make it easier.

It can be helpful to know some basic words in foreign languages. Although it is not as easy as speaking the entire language in a conversation, most people appreciate you trying to communicate with them in their language even if they have to change back to English.

5. It encourages cultural understanding

Let’s face facts, language and culture go hand-in-hand. You should learn Swahili or Hindi to understand Kenyan, Indian, and Chinese cultures. Although it is possible to learn more from videos and books, there are only so many things you can do. Understanding a culture requires that you understand the language used by its inhabitants.

Imagine learning about American culture while not knowing English. Imagine trying to understand Dave Chappelle’s humour, Bob Dylan’s lyrics or Shakespeare’s works while not knowing the meaning of the words. Without a good grasp of the language, cultural subtleties and references to pop culture might be lost.

You can learn and understand the meaning of what they are saying. It will help you to understand their culture and ways of life. If you know French you will be able to understand what “c’est la vie” means. Or, when someone says “Mouche,” it’s not about a fly. They’re talking about something entirely.

6. It can help you make friends.

It’s possible to meet people who share your language and interest. This is a great way to meet new people in your country and abroad. If you are learning Spanish and want to go on vacation in Spain, it is likely that you will find someone who speaks English and Spanish. It is possible to meet people who speak more than one language, which could lead to interesting conversations about the different ways that each learns it. building conversation through speaking with friends. We can improve our fluency but talking to friends

There will always be people willing to share their passions for languages as long as there is someone from another culture or country.

7. It speeds up overall language learning

Because learning a new language requires that you use your brain in a different way than you normally think or speak. This increases neuroplasticity. It means that learning another language will be much easier than if the first one was learned.

Learning a foreign language not only increases neuroplasticity but also opens up new vocabulary and sentence structures. These will allow you to learn other languages. These words and structures are available in many languages, including Romance and Germanic. Once a person has learned them in one language, 

8. You will learn more about your culture and language

Learning a foreign language will help you understand your native language more effectively. It will allow you to understand the structure of your native language and help you understand why it works as it does. You will also learn about the structure of other languages and their differences from English.

It is a great way for native English speakers to get insight into their culture. When I learned Spanish for the first time, I discovered that different words had different meanings depending upon whether they were used in nouns or verbs. This allowed me to understand why certain words were spelt differently from others, but still pronounced the same (e.g. “plane” vs “plain”).

Understanding our cultures and the cultures of those around us can help us build tolerance and peace among different groups of people all over the globe. It also allows us to understand and empathize more with one another.KCRCONSULTANTS are highly experienced in sending students overseas for study.