Too many people ask "why learn a language?" when the real question should be "why not?" There are numerous benefits to speaking a foreign language - both obvious and not so obvious.
More communication
First and foremost (and obviously), learning a new language allows you to communicate with more people. While it's true that English is very widespread, it's not a universal language, and it's not remotely true that everyone speaks it, or that you'll definitely find English speakers everywhere you go. So by learning a new language, you're guaranteed to be able to communicate better in certain countries. Spanish is spoken officially in 21 countries,[1] so speaking the local language in these places means you'll not only be able to talk to everyone, but also that you'll have a richer experience in that country—and isn't that what travel is all about?
Improved communication
Most of us take our native language for granted, at least at first. Since we learn it as children, effortlessly, it's generally only when studying a foreign language that we begin to realize how complex language actually is, and this helps us to understand our own language better. This is true no matter what your native and new languages may be, but it's doubly true when they are related. As you compare and contrast grammatical features and vocabulary, you'll learn not only the new language, but gain a deeper understanding of your own, which translates into better writing, editing, and listening skills—in every language you speak. The improved listening skills are particularly interesting, as they are brought about by actual changes in the brain's plasticity.[2]
Increased perspective
Different languages offer insight into different cultures. The Spanish word sobremesa* demonstrates the importance of chatting at the dinner table in many Spanish-speaking cultures. The existence of the German words Schadenfreude and Weltschmerz (and lack of English equivalents) says something about German mentality. Languages are full of tidbits like this, little hints about about the cultures of the people who speak them. Aside from being fascinating, these are useful for understanding other perspectives.
Better college performance
Foreign language is an entry requirement for most colleges, at least two years of study, if not four. And there's an additional benefit: foreign language study correlates with better performance on standardized tests, especially in math, reading, and vocabulary.[3] Even just 90 minutes per week for one semester correlates to significant improvement in math and language arts.[4] (Incidentally, it's not language study per se that provides these benefits, but just knowing another language, as shown by the fact that babies brought up in a bilingual environment tend to be better at mental calculation and reading.[5])
Additional job prospects
If you want to work overseas, knowing that country's language is vital. Even if you want to stay in your native country, knowing another language can be a huge advantage in fields like law, healthcare, and customer service. Some employers require knowledge of a second language, and many others list it as a plus, so speaking another language can be a great asset in your job search.
More benefits
There's a lot more where that came from! Studies show that bilinguals tend to
- have better memories[5]
- have longer attention spans[5]
- be better at ignoring distractions while focusing on a specific task[6]
- be better at multitasking[7]
- be more creative[8]
- be more perceptive due to "a heightened ability to monitor the environment"[9]
- make less biased decisions and be more confident in them[10]
Better brains?
As if that's not enough, learning a new language has actual, physical effects on the brain: learning a second language—at any age—leads to denser grey matter as well as better white matter integrity.[11] Perhaps most importantly, bilingualism prevents or delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, on average, by 4½ years.[12] In comparison, cholinesterase inhibitors—the only medications currently approved to treat early to moderate stage Alzheimer's symptoms—delay them by just 6 to 12 months.[13]
The bottom line
Learning a foreign language has innumerable benefits, from personal to professional to medical. Instead of asking why you should learn a new language, the real question is, why on earth not?
Notes
- la sobremesa - conversation at the dinner table after the meal
- Schadenfreude - pleasure derived from the misfortune of another
- Weltschmerz - mental depression or apathy caused by comparing the state of the world with an ideal state
Read more
References
1 World Population Reviw: Spanish Speaking Countries. Retrieved 2019 August 28.
2 Krizman, Jennifer et al (2012). "Subcortical encoding of sound is enhanced in bilinguals and relates to executive function advantages," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 109, no. 20, p. 7877–7881
3 The College Board (2003). "2003 college-bound seniors: A profile of SAT program test takers," table 3-3, p. 5
4 Armstrong, P. W., & Rogers, J. D. (1997). "Basic skills revisited: The effects of foreign language instruction on reading, math, and language arts," Learning Languages, vol. 2, no. 3, p. 20-31
5 Morales, Julia et al (2013). "Working memory development in monolingual and bilingual children," Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, vol. 114, no. 2, p. 187–202
6 Marian, V. and Shook, A. (2012). "The cognitive benefits of being bilingual," Cerebrum. Sep-Oct 2012, p. 13
7 Gold, Brian T. et al (2013). "Lifelong bilingualism maintains neural efficiency for cognitive control in aging," The Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 33, no. 2, p. 387-396
8 Leikin, Mark (2013). The effect of bilingualism on creativity: Developmental and educational perspectives. International Journal of Bilingualism, August 2013 vol. 17 no. 4, 431-447
9 Costa, Albert (2012). Cited in "Why bilinguals are smarter," by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, The New York Times, 17 March 2012
10 Keysar, Boaz et al (2012). "The foreign-language effect: Thinking in a foreign tongue reduces decision biases," Psychological Science, vol. 23, no. 6, p. 661-668
11 Li, P. et al (2014). "Neuroplasticity as a function of second language learning: anatomical changes in the human brain," Cortex, Sep 2014, p. 301-324
13 Alladi, S et al (2013). "Bilingualism delays age at onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status," Neurology, vol. 81 no. 22, p. 1938-1944
13 "Medications for Memory Loss" (accessed 2016), alz.org.
