The ability to speak a foreign language can open the door to a new career, enrich a visit to a foreign country, improve memory and boost scores on standardized tests. And there are no disadvantages to knowing a foreign language. Years of research and scores of studies have shown bilingual speakers increase their cognitive abilities and sharpen their academic abilities through their use of two languages.
Cultural Insights
A second language allows you to communicate with others from a different country and culture. It also equips you with a fundamental understanding of the values, norms and taboos of that culture. Language, particularly idiomatic expressions, provides insight into how certain cultures view particular situations. Grammar and syntax reflect how people structure their thought process. Familiarity with verbal nuances of a language leads to a richer understanding of a culture.
Career Advantages
In a tough global economy, job candidates who speak a second language have a significant advantage. Companies that do business with foreign suppliers, technicians and buyers often look for employees who can interact with associates in their native languages. Bilingual employees are often seen as valuable assets, and companies take steps to keep them on board. Those who speak more than one language are naturally first in line for plum overseas assignments and, in general, also earn more money and are ahead when it comes to promotions.
Core Abilities
Knowledge of a second language involves the development and use of four fundamental skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Using these skills with a foreign language generally requires more attention and practice. As a result, people who speak a foreign language strengthen their abilities to speak, listen, read and write in any language, including their native tongue. According to the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages, studies have also shown that bilingual students demonstrate a stronger ability to synthesize information and form new ideas in disciplines such as science and history.
Cognitive Strength
Ellen Bialystok, a psychology professor at Toronto's York University, has studied the cognitive difference between bilingual and monolingual speakers since the mid 1970s. According to a "New York Times" article from 2011, Dr. Bialystok found that people who consistently use two languages develop a stronger ability to recognize and weed out irrelevant information while continuing to process important facts or details. Because of that enhanced ability, bilingual speakers are better at multitasking. She has also discovered that the continued use of this brain function allows bilingual speakers with Alzheimer's disease to continue living normal lives for an average of five years longer than people who speak only one language.
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