6 Benefits of Learning a New Language

Expands career options

Globalization is here to stay. With the internet, people living on opposite sides of the world can speak with each other on a daily basis. This phenomenon has also allowed companies to expand their businesses worldwide, which means recruiters are looking for bilingual workers. While English might still be the most used language in the world, job searchers can get ahead in the market by learning German, Mandarin, or French. Plus, knowing a foreign language opens your career choices, as you’ll be able to apply for jobs in foreign companies without fearing the language barrier. To help you out, some language learning apps like Lingoda provide CEFR certificates, which you can put on your CV or LinkedIn profile.

Enhances memory

It’s not only your career that gets a boost when you learn a new language – your memory benefits from it too. Several studies have proved that learning a foreign language improves your short- and long-term memory. Consequently, it helps prevent the cognitive decline that comes with aging. It’s easy to understand why: like muscles, our brains work better with training. When you study a new language, you’re memorizing new vocabulary and learning new ways to express yourself and understand others.

Makes you a better communicator

It shouldn’t be surprising that your communication improves when you learn a new language, as your network will naturally expand. After all, you’ll be able to speak with people that you couldn’t before. But it doesn’t end there. Learning a second language also improves your native language by helping you expand your vocabulary.

Additionally, since people from different cultures have unique ways of expressing themselves, you’ll become more observant of body language cues. Meanwhile, since you don’t know anything when you start learning, you listen more than you speak, which improves your listening skills. We recommend including speaking exercises in your studying plan by using a learning platform like Babbel, as this is important to fully understand the language and its subtle distinctions.

Boosts creativity

Learning a foreign language goes hand-in-hand with understanding a new culture. This means getting to know different ways of thinking and may even give you a new perspective on life. Platforms with in-depth cultural information, such as Pimsleur, are great to immerse yourself in a country’s unique culture. You also need to be creative while trying to get your point across when learning a new language, especially when you still have a limited vocabulary. All of this makes you look at things differently, boosting your creativity in the process.

Increases brain size

Learning a new language literally makes your brain grow. Although scientists don’t know the exact science behind it, the truth is that studying a foreign language improves your decision-making, multitasking skills, and attention span. In other words, you’ll be able to learn faster, do more in less time, and be better at your job. If you want to exercise your brain even further, we recommend using Rosetta Stone. The software offers timed games, which improve both your language skills and critical thinking.

Builds self-confidence

Let’s face it, becoming bilingual is difficult. Reaching such a challenging goal is a cause for celebration, and it’s natural for you to feel great about it. But learning a new language boosts your confidence along the way, as well. The continuous improvement you get while studying a foreign language is the perfect example that you can do anything you set your mind to. Plus, since you’ll be making many mistakes along the way (some of those in public), you become less afraid of failing, more confident, and open to trying new things.

Learning a new language is definitely one of the most rewarding things you can do. It takes time and effort, but the benefits of improving yourself, meeting new people, and discovering different points of view are worthwhile. The best part is that you don’t need to start with the most difficult languages right away – even the easiest ones will provide all the benefits.