Photo by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN

Originally Posted On: 5 Benefits of Being Multilingual – TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Although only 20% of Americans can speak multiple languages, it’s estimated that half of the global population is bilingual.

Becoming multilingual opens more doors for you, whether it’s meeting new people or broadening your mind. Perhaps you’re eager to learn a new language but you’re not sure whether it’s worth your time.

Sounds familiar? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are five benefits of being multilingual.

1. Improves Your Memory 

When you learn languages, you’ll find your memory improves. Not only does this force you to learn an unfamiliar set of vocabulary and rules, but it teaches you to recall this in an instance. As a result, you train your brain to absorb and retain more information which shortens your learning curve.

2. Makes Travel More Enjoyable

Stumped for the best languages to learn? Then consider where you want to vacation and brush up on the key phrases.

When you adopt another language, you discover new cultures, ideas, and perspectives that make traveling far more rewarding. Plus, think about how many new people you can meet and the meaningful conversations you’ll have.

Further, when you learn another language, then it makes it easier to learn a third and so on. This is because when you understand the fundamental rules about learning a language, alongside your experience, then it creates a snowball effect.

3. Opens New Career Opportunities

The top languages for business, aside from English, are Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic. But even if you’re fluent in Portuguese or German, learning another language helps you stand out from candidates when you’re applying for jobs.

This is because employers know that multilingual consumers represent a huge chunk of potential business so have a business language under your belt. If you need help communicating with international clients, then check out the multilingual business review collection.

Further, learning multiple languages benefits children too. When a child is bilingual, it improves their educational development, social skills, and literacy which lasts their entire lifetime.

4. Improves Multitasking

When we multitask, our brains switch to a new mindset so we can engage in a new activity. This is difficult for many of us but not bilingual folk. Because multilingual people learn how to quickly switch between languages, it means they can do the same with activities.

5. Delays Alzheimer’s Disease 

As we age, it’s important to engage in challenging tasks to exercise our brains. For instance, elderly people are encouraged to do scrabble, sudoku, and board games to maintain cognitive function.

Learning a language is another fantastic way to delay the onset of memory problems like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Those Are the Benefits of Being Multilingual

Hopefully, after reading this article, you now know the benefits of being multilingual.

Learning multiple languages lets you discover new cultures, improve your memory, and stand out from other job applicants. It also boosts your multitasking skills and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s which proves its importance. Happy learning!

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