What are The Benefits of Being Bilingual
There
has been a lot of research on bilingualism over the years. Many studies have
found so many benefits
of being bilingual or being able to speak more than one
language. A trait that was once considered a hindrance, has now proved to have
so many advantages for both children and adults.
Here
are 10 amazing benefits of being
bilingual:
Make sure you check out the Infographic at the end of the page!
1. Being bilingual has positive effects on the brain
Studies
show that being bilingual has many cognitive
benefits. According to research,
speaking a second language can mean that you have a better attention span and
can multi-task better
than monolinguals. This is because being bilingual means you are constantly
switching from one language to the other. Numerous other studies suggest that
bilingualism can also reduce
the risk of having a stroke.
Cognitive benefits effect both bilingual kids and bilingual adults. Children as young as seven months who are exposed to more than one language
tend to adjust better to changes in the environment. For older bilinguals,
there tends to be less cognitive decline.
2. Bilingualism gives you the educational advantage
Many of
the cognitive
benefits mentioned above can also mean that bilinguals
have an advantage at school or further education. Many studies show that those
who speak a second language are more likely to be less distracted and more
focused on tasks.
Even bilingual children who
are educated in their second language, have actually been seen to outperform
monolingual students in their native language.
The
recent Millennum
Cohort Study found many educational benefits
for bilingual children. Their research showed that even though children who are
educated in their second language may initially lag behind around three,
four and five years old, they soon catch up and outperform their peers by age
seven.
3. Languages are highly valued in the workplace
Speaking
a second language has numerous employment
benefits. Being bilingual means that there are more job
opportunities depending on which languages you speak. Communication in the
workplace is important, and more companies, especially those with international
offices, are considering bilingualism a high priority.
Fast
growing fields such as tourism, journalism and translation put great value on
bilingual employees. Additional languages on the resume could have your
application moved to the top of the pile and give you a better chance at getting the job,
even if you aren’t as qualified as another monolingual applicant.
4. Being Bilingual has been linked to health benefits
There
have been many studies proving that being
bilingual can benefit ones health. Researches recently found
that there is growing evidence to
suggest that bilingualism can delay the onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease for example. Other benefits of being bilingual include things such as
a faster stroke
recovery, lower
stress levels, and delay many effects of old to name a few.
5. Speaking more than one language makes you more open
minded
Have you
ever heard the bilingual quote“To have another language is to
possess a second soul” by Charlemagne? One of the
benefits of being bilingual can mean that you see the world in different ways. Some
even say that speaking two different languages can sometimes feel like having
two different personalities.
Bilinguals
are used to constant change. This means that they are usually less effected by changes in the
environment, and more open minded to new things and new
experiences, because they have more than one view of the world already.
6. Speaking a foreign language can be highly beneficial
when you travel
Of
course you can get around many countries without speaking the language.
However, think of how much more you can experience if you speak the local
language of the place you are visiting. No need for a phrase book or a
translation app on the phone. Being able to communicate with the locals
and immerse yourself
in the language and culture can make your travel experience so
much more enjoyable.
7. Being Bilingual opens up new social opportunities
Bilinguals
can make friends in more than one language meaning more opportunities to meet new people, and
enjoy different hobbies and activities. Being able to communicate with people
from other cultures is a huge social advantage and can open up so many more
doors in life.
8. Knowing more than one language helps you to learn
additional languages
An
amazing benefit of being bilingual is that you can learn additional languagesmore
easily that monolinguals. This is because language skills reinforce each other.
So if you have learned a second language already, then learning a third means
transferring those skills over.
9. Being bilingual means you can raise bilingual kids
What
better advantage, than being able to pass on your languages to your own
children so they can reap the benefits of being bilingual too! Give your
children the best start in life and raise them bilingual from birth. Your
bilingual kids can then have bilingual kids of
their own and languages can be passed on through generations.
10. You are not the minority if you are bilingual
One of
the biggest misconceptions is that bilingualism is a rare phenomenon. But, in
fact being bilingual
means you are NOT the minority. More than half the world
speaks more than one language on a daily basis. In many countries around the world,
bilingualism is actually considered the norm, and I’m sure it won’t be long
until the rest of the world catches on. Everyone should have the chance to
learn a second language and reap the benefits of being bilingual.
