Benefits of Learning Foreign Languages

It seems that it is possible to learn a new language only in childhood, but it is not so. You will need motivation and diligence. If there is not enough motivation, the eight advantages of learning a new language proved by science will help to find it.

1. Improves knowledge of the native language

Only by learning a foreign language, we begin to appreciate the native language more. Speaking on it from the very childhood, we do not think about how it was built, often do not notice its beauty.

In the course of research, Alberta Leads the Way in Second Languages. Canadian scientists from the Alberta Teachers Association found that learning a second language helps greatly improve grammar, vocabulary and spoken language skills of the native language. This is akin to the situation when, for example, you played basketball all your life, and then learned to play volleyball and use new skills to play basketball even better.

2. You learn faster

When we study a foreign language, our ability to memorize new information improves as well. Writing memory development in monolingual and bilingual children. And this reduces the training period. In addition, those who know several languages ​​are better at mastering the skills of multitasking. 

3. Concentration improvement

American scientists have conducted a study of Bilingual brains better equipped to process information, in which they observed using functional magnetic resonance imaging for people speaking several languages, when they performed tasks for understanding words. The results showed that such people better filter out similar words than those who speak only one language.

This ability helps to block various distractions and concentrate on one task. Even a minimal knowledge of the second language gives significant advantages.

4. You become more sociable

In communicating with other people, perhaps, is the essence of learning a foreign language. And to improve your conversational skills, it's best to deal with a native speaker or with someone who already knows it and also wants to practice. It's like riding a bicycle. To learn how to ride it, it's not enough just to review a lot of videos, you need to sit down and start pedaling.

In addition, learning a language is immersion in a new culture, the opportunity to look at the world from a completely different angle and learn to sympathize.

5. Creativity development

Speaking in another language, we often have to look for synonyms and build words into coherent sentences, so that the interlocutor understands us. This improves the skills of divergent thinking, constantly forcing us to look for several solutions to one problem.

Therefore, researchers believe that people who speak several languages ​​are more creative than those who speak the same language. 

6. Some brain diseases can be prevented

From aging can not escape. However, the study of a new language can prevent or delay the development of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia, for 4-5 years, Bilingualism delays age at onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status. Such an effect is not given even by a medicine. Everybody should try this out. Communicating in several languages ​​increases the number of neural pathways in the brain, because of this information is processed through more channels.

7. Mathematical skills improved

As part of the study, the benefits of learning a foreign language. , conducted in 2007 by the American Council for the Study of Foreign Languages, it was found that children who study a foreign language show better results in mathematics than those who have more hours of mathematics in the schedule, but there is absolutely no foreign language.

Nothing surprising, because the study of the foundations of another language involves logical thinking. Various mnemonics that are used in the study of new words are also needed in mathematics to memorize complex formulas.

8. Increased self-confidence

When we decide to do something and succeed, it increases confidence, no matter how small our victory is. Even the ability to maintain a short conversation with a native speaker can make us more self-confident. It means that we were able to do what was previously impossible for us.

Over time, this thinking is strengthened and helps to achieve the goals in any life spheres.