Human convey thoughts, desires, and information to others through the use of language.
We use various types of language to communicate. It is a means to discover problems, think about alternatives, solve problems, fantasise, argue and much more.
We use language to communicate and to express ourselves. It is a medium that allows us to describe, express ourselves, develop our thoughts and seek alternatives for socialization beyond those imposed by our mother tongue.
The average person speaks two to four languages in a lifetime, of which we all speak our mother tongue, but there are more than 7100 other languages.
If I speak my mother tongue that’s fine, but why should I learn another language?
Why is it Important to Learn Different Languages?
That’s what we want to talk about in this article and explain exactly what the benefits of learning languages are with the help of examples.
1. Improve your Memory and Brain Functions
Learning one or more languages has many cognitive benefits for humans. The more our brain is used to learn new skills, such as a language, the more functions in our brain become active. This has the effect of keeping your brain healthy and sharp. A new language, new vocabulary, new grammar rules – your brain is forced to memorise this.
But what does all this activity in my brain do for me now?
- An improvement in problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
- An improvement in human memory
- An improvement in concentration
- The ability to switch better between competing tasks
- A better ability to monitor their environment
If that’s not enough, learning one or more languages also helps combat cognitive decline.
2. New Job Oportunities and Professional Revalorization
In the world we live in today, language skills, no matter what sector you are looking for work in. In today’s economy, the chances of finding a job as a bilingual or multilingual speaker are greater than for those who speak only their mother tongue. This is because more and more companies consider this important. They are looking for professionals who can communicate with customers from other countries.
It is understandable that employers think this is important, but what does it do for me?
- Language skills create competitive advantages
- More job opportunities for bilingual and multilingual employees.
Improving your language skills by learning a new language will put you one step ahead of your competitors in the job search. Research shows that language skills are a competitive advantage.
In addition, being multilingual opens more opportunities for you in the job search. For more and more companies, it is an advantage if you can speak another language besides your mother tongue.
So learning a language is interesting for your future, is not it?
3. Become a Better Communicator
Learning a new language gives you the opportunity to communicate with people who also speak that language. The goal is to be able to connect with others and convey a message to them by communicating with them.
Communication skills are skills we use to communicate and interact with others. They help us understand people better and see situations more clearly.
These skills can usually be divided into the following 5 groups:
- Written communication
- Oral communication
- Non-verbal communication
- Active listening
- Contextual communication
Bilingual and multilingual people have the ability to develop these communication skills both in their mother tongue and in the language, they have learned, which makes them perceived as good communicators.
4. Better Executive Functions in Personal and Professional Life
Besides the fact that your language skills improve, there are other skills that you develop when you learn a language. This improvement is both personal and professional.
You will develop in three areas because you are learning or have learned a language. We are talking about listening skills, problem-solving skills and time management skills. Skills that are important in both our personal and professional lives.
Listening skills: When you learn a foreign language, your brain is forced to distinguish between different types of sounds and languages. Consequently, learning a language leads to an improvement in your listening skills.
Problem-solving skills: Research shows that people who speak a second or more languages. are more creative in solving problems than monolingual speakers. They have developed a form of thinking that is more open and objective, leading them to different solutions.
Time management skills: Learning a language requires a high degree of discipline in most cases. It also requires good time management. People who learn a language are therefore in many cases better able to manage their time.
Conclusion
Learning a language can take a lot of time and therefore requires a lot of discipline. However, improving your language skills is never a waste of time.
In fact, it brings so many positive benefits that will have a positive impact on both your personal and professional life.
From improving and developing brain function and memory, to becoming a better communicator.
Develop your language skills, start learning a language. You will not regret it.
