We live in a globalized world where we can communicate with anyone at any given time. In a day and age where mobility is facilitated, learning a second language isn’t only beneficial; it is almost crucial to breaking the cultural barriers.
Not only will adding another language to your resume benefit you while you’re traveling, but it can also advance your career prospects! Not sold yet? Here’s a look at all the great reasons to go bilingual today!
It Can Make You More Competitive at Work
Knowing a second (or third) language makes your resume stand out and can help you climb the career ladder faster. As companies serve more diverse, multilingual populations across a global marketplace, managers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of having a multilingual workforce at hand.
Many companies already have international offices, with an impressive number of businesses resorting to full remote operations after the onslaught of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. These companies need versatile employees who can speak various languages to help the organization better navigate cultural expectations.
Being Bilingual Opens Up Social and Cultural Opportunities
When you speak another language, you can interact with different people and understand other cultures’ nuances. This way, you’re able to make more friends, explore diverse literature, and even discover new hobbies.
Travelling can also be a more rewarding experience when you speak the local language. You won’t be limited to foreigner hangouts or touring with English-speaking groups. Instead, you’ll be able to have an authentic experience as you meet new people and learn about a new culture without the fees you’d have to pay for a foreign-language guide.
It Gives You New Perspective
If your multilingual, you’ll see the world in a different light and might even understand yourself better. According to a 2011 study, bilingual individuals literally see the world differently. If you regularly speak in another language, you can perceive differences in color variations that monolinguals don’t recognize. Now, how’s that for perspective!
In another study, it was found that bilingual people had a significant shift in how they perceived themselves. Women who were fluent in Spanish and English classified themselves as more assertive because they could express themselves in two different languages. Could learning another language be the key to better understanding yourself?
A Second Language Improves Brain Power
Various studies have indicated bilingualism’s positive benefits on brainpower and capacity. One Scottish study found that bilingual children were more successful than their monolingual peers when it came to problem-solving and creativity. Another found that bilingual individuals can process information more efficiently and with ease when compared to those that speak only one language.
Being multilingual can even help you make better decisions, according to a University of Chicago study. A team of psychologists found that forcing individuals to rely on another language when making choices reduces natural biases. A second language can improve cognitive and emotional distance, allowing you to focus on the information at hand rather than your own emotions.
A Second Language Can Slow Down Aging
Learning another language provides lifelong benefits, but these benefits become even more essential in old age. The ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances (cognitive flexibility) naturally declines as we grow older. But learning second language can significantly delay that decline! According to one study, bilingualism can delay dementia and improve cognition in aged individuals.
Bilingualism might not be able to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but it might be able to delay its onset. A recent study showed that even though the same brain deterioration was observed in bilingual and monolingual people, those who were bilingual didn’t exhibit typical symptoms until much later compared to those who speak just one language.
You’re Never Too Old to Learn a New Language!
Even though you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, it’s never too late (or early) to start learning a second language! The impressive benefits gained from speaking another language are far too great to be ignored!
The sooner you learn a new language, the greater the benefits will be! While you’re learning the ropes, Day Translations would be happy to help you understand foreign languages and cultural nuances! Get in touch with our team today for all your translation and interpretation needs!