10 pros
of
being
BILINGUAL
1. Brain growth
The fact that language centres in
the brain actually grow is one of
the major benefits of learning a
second language. The better you
learn, the more those vital areas of
the brain grow.
2. Stave off dementia
Bilingualism delays Alzheimer’s disease in susceptible people by as much as five years. Seems incredible, but the studies
are continuing to support this result. To put this in context:
the effect on dementia of learning another language is much
greater than anything achievable with the latest drugs.
3. Hear language better
Being bilingual can lead to improved
listening skills since the brain has to
work harder to distinguish different
types of sounds in two or more lan-
4. Become more language sensitive
Infants in bilingual households can distinguish
languages they’ve never even heard before. Just
being exposed to the different sounds in, for example, Spanish and Catalan, helps them tell the
difference between English and French is another of the benefits of learning a second language.
8. Double the activation
Cognitive boosts, like improved attention and better multitasking, may arise because bilingual people have both languages activated at the same time, and must continually monitor which one is appropriate. All that switching back and forth
confers the benefits of learning a second language.
6. Better multi-tasking
Bilingual people can switch from one task to
another more quickly. They show more cognitive flexibility and find it easier to adapt to
unexpected circumstances .
7. Increased attention
Bilinguals have stronger control
over their attention and are better able to limit distractions
a
8. Boost your memory
Babies brought up in a bilingual environment have stronger working memories than
those brought up with only one language.
This means they are better at mental calculation, reading and many other vital skills.
9. New ways of seeing
Learning a new language can
literally change the way you see
the world. Learning Japanese, for
example, which has basic terms
for light and dark blue, may help
you perceive the colour in different ways .
10. Improve your first language
Since learning a second language
draws your attention to the abstract
rules and structure of language, it can
By Joseph Rutakangwa
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