Benefits of Learning a Second Language

We find diversity in the cultures and people make the so-called small world an enormous ocean of people; people boasting of their own cultures, traditions and languages. Their ways to express ideas were vary and so do their dialects. Benefits of learning a second language come in to picture when it comes to understanding and experiencing this diversity. Learning a second language is the acquisition of a language other than one’s native language. It is a learning to express oneself in the words of other communities. It is like expressing one’s ideas in the other’s way!

It is important to learn a second language to tickle the ‘linguistic hemisphere’ of your brain. It is important to exploit brain potential to the maximum possible extent. One way to do it is learning different languages. Learning a second language develops the cognitive abilities. It is seen to be improving learning skills of a person. It increases the grasping power of a person’s brain. According to an observation, people knowing many languages are likely to stay young!

Language lovers always find it interesting to explore languages other than their own. They are eager to dive into the sea of languages and master some of them. But for those who only engage in solving Math problems or delve into science inventions, it is necessary to even peep into the world of languages. Just see how enriched you feel on learning a second language.

Ask yourself the question, "Why is it important to learn a second language?" Your inner mind will respond by saying that it is always keen to learn new things, understand new cultures and be able to think and feel in different ways. Knowing just one language is not enough. Our mind yearns for new ways of expression. It is a human tendency to discover new means of communication. Second language can quench the thirst of newness. Brainpower depends on how active the brain is kept. It is proportional to the exercise given to the brain. Learning a second language is a good brain exercise. It involves comprehension of a completely new technique of expression. It includes the understanding of new words, their pronunciations and the meanings as well as the feelings they convey.

Another benefit of learning a second language is that it deepens the understanding of one’s own language and culture. Knowing a language other than one’s native language build confidence in him/her. It increases the scope of one’s knowledge. It enables a person communicate with people speaking that language. Languages always serve as communication links between people. If one learns a second language he/she automatically becomes approachable to the community that speaks it. It earns him/her friends of other regions and religions.

Second language learning is found to manifest its benefits in school children. The strategies that children apply in learning the first language are applicable while learning a second language also. Knowing how to read and write in the first language supports the learning of a second language. Learning a second language build creativity in children and develops their literacy skills. School children who study a second language do better than their monolingual peers. Cultural and language experts believe in the benefits of learning a second language. They say that school children must be taught a second language. It widens their horizons. Some say, it is best to gain knowledge of a second language at an early age while others do not think an early age a necessity.

By not learning a second language, we limit the expanse of our knowledge. We miss the experience of the variety of people. We restrict our learning skills. Moreover, learning a second language can be fun. If this has convinced you of the benefits of learning a second language, go ahead! It is never too late!

Benefits of Being Bilingual

There are a number of languages spoken throughout the world. Every person knows at least one language, which he learns in his childhood which is routinely used for speaking and writing. However, many people are fond of learning two or more languages. There are numerous benefits of being bilingual such as an improvement in linguistic and meta linguistic abilities as well as betterment of cognitive flexibility such as divergent thinking, concept formation, verbal abilities and general reasoning.

Many people have the capacity to learn a second language. It may be another language in the same country or totally different language from another country. Nowadays, several institutes and schools offering foreign language courses are popping up throughout the world. Many colleges and universities have included some foreign language courses in their regular academic syllabus too. While learning another language, you need to understand its basic grammar and improve vocabulary. Being bilingual offers greater sensitivity to language, more flexibility in thinking and a better ear for listening. It also improves a person’s understanding for the native language. It opens the door to other cultures. Moreover, knowledge of other languages increases the career opportunities, offering several job options.

Benefits of Being Bilingual

You can get a number of benefits of being bilingual in various aspects such as cognitive benefits, curriculum advantages, cultural benefits, employment advantages, communication advantages and tolerance of other languages and cultures.

    * Cognitive benefits: The bilingual people can have some specific advantages in thinking. They have two or more words for each idea and object. Hence, a bilingual person can develop a creative thinking and an ability to think more flexibly. The bilinguals are aware about which language should be spoken with which person in a particular situation. Therefore, they are more sensitive to the needs of the listener than the monolingual people. Being bilingual has a positive effect on intellectual growth. It enhances and enriches a person’s mental development. The latest research has proved that the bilinguals are better at IQ tests as compared to the monolinguals.
    * Character advantages: The bilinguals are able to switch between different languages and talk to different people in various languages. It increases a sense of self-esteem. Being bilingual creates a powerful link in different people from different countries.
    * Curriculum benefits: A bilingual education offers better curriculum results. The bilinguals tend to show a higher performance in examinations and tests. It is associated with thinking benefits of bilingualism. The bilinguals find it quite easy to learn and speak three, four or more languages.
    * Communication advantages: The bilinguals enjoy reading and writing in different languages. They can understand and appreciate literatures in various languages. It gives a deeper knowledge of different ideas and traditions. It helps improve the ways of thinking and behaving. The pleasures of reading poetry, novels and magazines as well as the enjoyment of writing to family and friends are doubled for bilinguals. They don’t face difficulties in communication while in a foreign country.
    * Cultural advantages: Bilingualism offers an access and exposure to different cultures. Knowledge of different languages offers a treasure of traditional and contemporary sayings, idioms, history and folk stories, music, literature and poetry in different cultures. Due to a wider cultural experience, there is a greater tolerance of differences in creeds and customs.
    * Employment benefits: Being bilingual offers potential employment benefits. It offers a wider choice of jobs in various fields. The bilinguals can get prosperous career opportunities in the retail sector, transport, tourism, administration, secretarial work, public relations, marketing and sales, banking and accountancy, translation, law and teaching.