Many people wonder whether it’s worth the time and effort to learn another language. Language learning is hard work, and even after many years of studying and practicing, most learners will not sound like a native speaker. Some people also think that with the availability of technology resources (AI, Google Translate, etc.) learning another language is no longer necessary. It’s so easy to get a translation on your phone!
That said, there are many good reasons to learn another language, and there are many benefits to speaking multiple languages. Some of the reasons that people have for wanting to study another language are:
Traveling to other countries and learning about different cultures. Even learning the survival basics of another language can make your travel experience more rewarding. This includes, for example, learning to say thank you, understand basic greetings, asking for directions, ordering a meal, or buying a train ticket. In many countries, English is spoken, but if you make an effort to communicate in the local language, you’ll find that people really appreciate the effort!
Communicating with a friend, neighbor, or relative who speaks another language. In today’s globalized society, we are surrounded by people from other cultures who speak different languages. Learning to speak their language can be a way to gain a deeper understanding of their culture and to forge a more meaningful connection.
Improving your brain health. There is increasing evidence from research that being bilingual has cognitive benefits as people age. Bilingualism protects against cognitive decline and is associated with a delay in the onset of symptoms of dementia. 1 In a recent study I co-authored, we found that more than half the participants who used the Babbel language learning app were over the age of 55 and were seeking to improve their brain health. 2
Improving your business. These days, all companies are part of a global marketplace, and cross-cultural understanding is crucial for business owners. Of course, one can argue that English is the international business language, but gaining a deeper understanding of the culture(s) your business partners or your customers across the world can help avoid embarrassing or costly mistakes. Speaking another language or showing cultural awareness can also create a tremendous amount of goodwill. Listen to this podcast episode from America the Bilingual (a tremendous resource for learning more about bilingualism!): https://www.americathebilingual.com/71-the-surprise-in-that-subway-sandwich-languages/
These are just a few of the reasons for learning an additional language. The most important reason, I believe, is articulated by the 2007 report from the Modern Language Association which emphasizes that speaking another language and learning another culture allows you to view the world and reflect on yourself through the lens of that other language and culture.3
- Byalistok et al., 2012. Bilingualism: Consequences for mind and brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 16(4), 240-250. ↩︎
- Van Deusen-Scholl, N., Lubrano, M., & Sporn, Z. (2019). Measuring Babbel’s efficacy in developing oral proficiency (https://press.babbel.com/shared/downloads/studies_research/Measuring-Babbels-Efficacy-in-Developing-Oral-Proficiency.pdf) ↩︎
- Modern Language Association Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Languages. (2007). Foreign Languages and Higher Education: New Structures for a Changed World. ↩︎
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