Why learn a foreign language?

17 Apr 2017

Speaking a foreign language allows you to travel safely in a foreign country, to delve deeper into a culture that is your own, and to communicate with people you would not otherwise understand. Many studies also show that the speaking a foreign language is beneficial for your health, especially for the brain. Therefore, it is undeniable that speaking one, or even several, foreign languages is a real asset in all areas of life. Here you will find our top 5 reasons to learn a foreign language.

 

1. To be more competitive in the labour market

English, for example, has become a must-have skill for many jobs, and the ability to speak one or several foreign languages is an important asset on the CV of an applicant. If you can prove to an employer that you speak and write a language other than your native language, you increase your chances of being hired.

 

2. For “brain training” and better cognitive flexibility

We have to work our neurons to prevent the brain from aging too fast. Learning a foreign language is a useful intellectual activity, and people who speak several languages have a better cognitive flexibility than those who only speak one. A study by the Journal of Neuroscience, which measured the participants’ ability to perform a task involving their cognitive flexibility, shows that “bilingual” people completed the task more quickly, and using less energy, even when they had learned a foreign language as an adult.

 

3. To fight Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s can affect anyone, but if we are to believe the results presented at the conference of the American Association for Scientific Progress held in 2011, but bilinguals develop these disorders four or five years later than those who only speak one language. Learning a foreign language is a challenge for the brain, and improves its ability to assimilate new knowledge.

 

4. Out of curiosity, because another language is a different vision of life.

“Learning a language is all about soaking up the culture”. Languages are the result of centuries of history: wars, population movements, developments, and a mixture of foreign contributions. By studying a language, you also learn the history of a country, its culture and habits and its way of understanding life. This can lead to an open mind and greater tolerance, and can also enrich the identity of the individual.

 

5. To make better decisions.

When people think in another language, they usually make more rational decisions. This is demonstrated in a psychological study that took place in 2012. Because we tend to want to avoid things that can harm us, we limit the risks we take, even when the circumstances are in our favour. Thinking in another language can create a distance that leads to more considered decisions that are less dependent on our emotions.