The unexpected benefits of learning different languages

According to Psychology Today, more than half of the world’s population is bilingual. This means that 3.5 billion people use at least 2 different languages in their everyday life! Let’s see what these people’s main motivations are, and what they entail…

– In your everyday life

Being a natural bi-lingual is probably the greatest linguistic benefit one could have but let’s be honest, not many of us have parents who have different mother tongues and raised us bi-lingual. If you weren’t so lucky to be raised with bilingualism it’s definitely not the end of the road! It could also mean you’ll have a lot of fun doing so!

Learning a foreign language is not all about studying books and spending hours and hours practicing vocabulary. You should, whenever possible try to meet other people who speak the language you are learning. You will soon find that communicating with locals, even they are away from home, is one of the most effective ways of learning a language. With your new found friends you will have a unique insight into a different culture and that will certainly broaden your horizons.

Imagine walking around in your home town and suddenly you see lost tourists with all their maps and cameras. With your language skills you can easily help them navigate around and they sure will be very thankful.

Do you love being up to date with the latest cultural references? Most cultural references can only transfer their true meaning when you see the original movie, hear the local songs or read the current bestselling books in their country of origin. Being able to understand the original language will give another great insight into the culture and you may even be able to watch your favourite foreign movie or series before they hit your local cinemas or TVs!

One of the biggest advantages of being bi-lingual (or even multi-lingual) is probably having a better prospect on the job market – especially the international job marketing in this forever shrinking world. Working on an international level is a great benefit for any bi-lingual since you will not only deal with linguistic, but also cultural differences. Being able to communicate on a professional level is definitely a big motivation for you to master your language skills.

– When you travel

No matter why you travel, going abroad gets much more pleasant when you have the ability to make yourself understood and, maybe more importantly, to understand others.

Even though most of the world population can more or less speak English, how many of us have experienced that awkward moment when the conversation you have with locals doesn’t make any sense, and doesn’t help you to find the place you were looking for, or even worse; your way back home!

Speaking the language of the country you’re travelling to not only helps you not to get lost, but also provides you with unique opportunities to discuss with the locals, understand their humour and point of view, this will obviously be appreciated.

Most bilingual people will agree, humour, stories, feelings are expressed very differently depending the language – that is why people who speak many languages are said to have the same number of personalities!

On a professional point of view, speaking two or more languages is definitely a valuable asset on the global job market. This is more than a simple qualification and is the one that employers don’t seem to have enough of! It largely broadens your horizons in terms of employability: bilinguals have access to many more jobs in foreign countries, as well as in their own country.

– When you get older

You probably didn’t know, but learning a second language is a genuine bliss for your brain! Actually, according to a study published in Annals of Neurology, the process of memorising and integrating other languages delays the symptoms of dementia by several years. But that’s not all, bilingual people have better cognitive abilities than others; the effects are more noticeable when it comes to general intelligence and reading, where individuals who have been able to speak other languages have improved attention and focus. These findings are valid even in the case of learning a language in adulthood!

Club50+ language courses are a popular way for more mature students to experience language learning and discover new cultures with students of a similar age.

Finally, learning a language is incredibly stimulating for the brain, and that is what is helping us to keep up a good shape, essential for the many adventures expecting you over the world…