Benefits of learning a second language

This article was written by Sophia Hall.

There are over 7,000 known languages worldwide. According to The European Union,  three-fifths of Europeans can converse in at least one language that isn’t their native tongue. It is rising to four-fifths of the European youth. The average American only knows one. We expect others to speak English. We as Americans need to get on a level with the rest of the world. 

Knowing a foreign language is beneficial to understanding the world and building connections with family, peers, and even strangers around the globe. It can also help our minds better comprehend global situations and struggles. 

Language is power when it comes to knowing how the world works. As someone who is currently enrolled in a Spanish class, learning a second language has helped me communicate with so many other people. It shows that the language barrier isn’t a limit.

Learning a second language rather than only your native one can also make others feel welcome. If you were traveling to a new country and no one spoke your native language, you would feel isolated and out of place. Knowing more than one language helps you improve your connection with others in the world and it makes the experience of conversating better. 

Senior Kelly Burke is a prime example of seeing the world through different languages. Burke knows multiple languages and has experienced firsthand the benefits that come from exploring life through various dialects.

“Right now I’m learning Spanish. I get to be able to communicate with other people and just be able to speak their native language. It makes people feel more comfortable and allows you to talk to more people,” Burke said. 

Burke also had an immersive experience in another country when she and her family moved to Uzbekistan and returned back to the United States Three years later. During her time there Burke became fluent in Russian and even picked up some Uzbekiken. 

“I learned Russian when I was seven years old [when]my family and I moved overseas to  Uzbekistan,” Burke said. “ I attended a local Russian school, so I got to learn Russian from my teachers, my classmates, and from the kids who lived in my apartment complex.” 

The prestigious College of Middlebury Language Schools in Vermont speaks on the cognitive benefits of learning a second language. Improvements in memory are a big benefit that comes from learning a second language. 

“Learning a new language pushes your brain to get familiar with new grammar and vocabulary rules. It allows you to train your memory to remember new words, make connections between them, and use them in contextual situations,” Middlebury Language Schools said. 

Expanding your language horizons is beneficial in enhancing multitasking skills. 

“Multilingual people have the ability to switch between languages. Their ability to think in different languages and be able to communicate in more than one language helps with multitasking,” Middlebury Language Schools said.  

Becoming bilingual has many benefits for yourself, the world, and the people around you. Challenge yourself to be a global citizen rather than a standard American.