15 Incredible Bene.

ts
of Learning a Second
Language
June 22, 2022 by Joy Sallegue

Growing up bilingual in the Philippines,

where most people speak two or more
languages, it was easy to take for
granted the many benefits of knowing
multiple languages. Most of us learned
English from early childhood, so it didn’t
feel particularly remarkable.

Only when I grew older and started

getting exposed to more people from
other countries did I realize that
bilingualism or multilingualism isn’t the
norm for everyone. As I began learning
Korean and exploring more languages, I
came to understand the importance of
learning a second language and the use
of language versatility.

So, what are the benefits of learning a

second language? Let’s go through my
list, shall we?

···

1. Learning languages
helps you connect with
more people.

One of the most obvious advantages of

learning a second language is that you
can talk to more people. Languages are
tools for communication and connection.
And isn’t that one of the most rewarding
aspects of being human, the ability to
connect with others?

Knowing widely spoken languages such

as English, Mandarin, and Spanish is
particularly useful when traveling
because you have the unique
opportunity to talk to locals. You don’t
have to resort to random hand gestures!

But even without traveling abroad,

knowing a second or third language
proves beneficial when talking to
strangers or even colleagues who speak
a different mother tongue. People tend
to open up more when speaking the
language they’re comfortable with. So, if
you speak their language or dialect, you
might just get a better understanding of
their thoughts — they might even tell you
their life story!

···

2. Knowing more
languages helps you gain a
full travel experience.

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···

American author Clifton Fadiman said,

“When you travel, remember that a
foreign country is not designed to make
you comfortable. It is designed to make
its own people comfortable.” I
wholeheartedly agree.

While most countries have gone out of

their ways to make tourists feel welcome,
part of being a responsible traveler is
knowing that we’re supposed to adjust,
and not the other way around. This
includes researching the culture,
learning about local customs and
traditions, and learning a few basic
phrases.

It shouldn’t feel like a task, really. On the

contrary, knowing the local language is
so rewarding especially when you know
more than the basic polite greetings and
“where is the bathroom?”.

I can vividly recall the time I went to

Seoul and the old lady selling spicy
dakkochi (chicken skewers) asked me in
Korean if I can tolerate spice and I
answered jokeum (a little). If I had just
answered a straight yes, I probably
wouldn’t have been able to finish that
skewer.

···

Anyone who has traveled to a place

where a different language or dialect is
spoken can tell you just how practical
bilingualism can be. You can ask about
the food you’re ordering, you can haggle
prices, you can easily ask for accurate
directions, and you can make small talks
more interesting. All these without the
need for translation apps or charades!

3. It widens your
knowledge of various
cultures.

···

One of the biggest benefits of learning a

second language is being able to
understand another culture. Language is
cultural and is interspersed with the
traditions, arts, religions, and history of
the people and country associated with
that language.

Knowing the language allows you to

better understand and appreciate the
culture tied to that language, especially
since there are a lot of words and
concepts in local cultures (like these
Filipino words) that don’t translate well to
English or other popular languages.

While you can read and study about

other cultures, knowing the language
makes the whole experience more
immersive.

Greater understanding and appreciation

of another culture, in turn, results in
greater tolerance, empathy, and
acceptance of others. Exposure to a
variety of cultures promotes openness to
new perspectives — an acceptance that
we are who we are because we come
from different backgrounds.

···

4. It boosts your brain

power.

Multiple studies have confirmed that the

advantages of learning a foreign
language include many cognitive
benefits.

For one, a bilingual or multilingual brain

works and looks different compared to
monolingual brains. Research shows that
the brains of people who speak two
languages contain a higher density of
gray matter in the executive control
region. This region contains most of your
brain’s neurons and synapses and
performs more activity when engaging in
a second language.

It is then no surprise that many bilinguals

have improved memory, problem-
solving, and critical-thinking skills as well
as enhanced concentration and better
listening skills.

···

After all, a foreign language is a whole

new intricate system of rules, structures,
and vocabulary. Learning a second
language or a third even means your
brain has to cope with the complexity of
new systems that may or may not share
similarities with your native language.

So, the next time you ace that Duolingo

level, pat yourself on the back — you
deserve it after the mental workout!

5. Learning a second
language can stave off the
effects of Alzheimer’s and
dementia.

Old man studying

···

The heightened workout a bilingual brain

performs throughout its life doesn’t just
result in cognitive benefits but also
improves brain health. Studies have
shown that language learning helps
delay the onset of degenerative
neurological conditions such as
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by as
much as five years.

Learning and using a second language

keeps your brain agile and working in
analytical ways. While it won’t prevent
you from getting Alzheimer’s or
dementia, it can help you continue to
function even in the face of having brain
damage.

6. Learning languages
gives you a wider choice of
jobs.

Working on laptop

···

Among the common reasons to learn a

second language is job availability.
Knowing multiple languages opens up a
world of choices that may not be
available to your monolingual peers.

A survey conducted by Rosetta Stone

showed that up to 35% of those
responsible for hiring or managing
people reported that an employee’s
proficiency in another language led them
to extend a job offer, grant an interview,
recommend a promotion, and
recommend a pay raise.

Many jobs require (or at least prefer)

applicants to know a second language.
Employees who can speak multiple
languages can communicate with a
wider set of clients, making bilingualism
or multilingualism a valuable skill. And
yes, as long as you meet the other
criteria, it can lead to faster promotion
and higher income.

7. Learning a second
language helps with
decision-making.

The bene'ts of a bilingu…

···

One of the best cognitive benefits of

learning a second language is that it
helps you get better at making decisions.

Several studies and this TED video on

the benefits of a multilingual brain have
explained that people who learned a
second language in adulthood display
less emotional bias and exhibit a more
rational approach when solving problems
in the second language than in their
native one. This is because learning a
second language happens more
systematically compared to how we
learned our native language.

When we deliberate in our second or

third language, we often observe the
rules, nuances, and even hidden
meanings in sentences. We distance
ourselves from emotional responses and
biases that we associate with our mother
tongue. This results in logical decisions
based on facts.

···

8. Being bilingual makes

you a better multitasker.

Bilingual

In the same vein, knowing a second or

third language helps you become a
better multitasker and problem-solver.

The previously mentioned TED video

illustrates that the mental workout
required by switching between
languages, or code-switching, triggers
more activity, and potentially
strengthens, the dorsolateral prefrontal
cortex. This part of the brain helps with
problem-solving and multitasking.

This Penn State research supports that

conclusion. Judith Kroll, Distinguished