1. Boost your brain

There are clear evidences that studying a foreign language has positive impacts on cognitive functions. The brain is likened to a muscle, which can be strengthened with more exercise. When you learn a new language, you need to manage a new complex system of structures and memorise numerous vocabularies. Your brain will be challenged to memorise and recall every so often, like giving it a good workout. For this reason, bilinguals would possibly develop better memory and problem-solving skills relative to monolingual peers.

Additionally, bilinguals- especially at the initial stage of learning a new language- may need to swap the two languages frequently to decipher the meaning, allowing them to be able to switch between tasks faster and handle more at once. It is worth noting that the ability to multi-task is of great advantage both personally and professionally in this busy world.

If those were not reason enough, studying a foreign language also keeps your brain healthy. A study by Edinburgh University and Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in India has demonstrated that bilinguals tend to experience a delay onset of dementia up to 5 years compared to monolinguals. Perhaps one of the keys to delay brain ageing is the willingness and ability to endure difficulties when learning a new area of expertise, suggested by Dr. Bradford Dickerson, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

2. Improve academic performance

By virtue of the cognitive benefits of learning a second language, the academic performance of bilinguals will likely be improved as well. Studies have shown that bilingual students tend to achieve higher scores on standardised exams such as math and language than monolinguals. It is not surprising that students can employ these cognitive benefits across various subjects or even retain the benefits in later years.

Adding on to the rewards of studying a foreign language is that you may have a better understanding of your mother tongue. Learning a second language requires extra attention to the grammar and structure of the new language. This skill is transferable, making you to be more observant of your mother tongue’s structure, which can in turn improve your writing and reading skills of your own native language.

3. Makes you more open-minded

Learning a foreign language opens the door to an entirely new culture, allowing you to see the world from a different point of view. Appreciation of different perspectives can lead to a greater tolerance, understanding and acceptance.

Not only that, possessing a foreign language offers you a chance to observe the local culture closely. You may often get by with English, however, when you speak the local language, you can escape the tourist bubble and build deeper connections with the place you are travelling to by socialising with locals or diving into places inaccessible to those who do not understand the local language. For instance, if you speak Spanish, you have set the stage for travelling to non-touristy places in many European countries. It would very likely enhance the entire travelling experience.

We are innately inclined to the sense of familiarity but undoubtedly, the best way to get along with people is to speak their language. Imagine how fascinating it is when you find someone speaking the same language as you in an unfamiliar and foreign environment. Communicating with others in their familiar language allows you to naturally connect with them and build a strong relationship. In turn, you will develop a more positive attitude towards different ethnicities and cultures and step out of your comfort zone- thus expanding your social network.

5. Wider education choices and access to information

Learning a foreign language gives scope to pursue high-quality yet affordable education. Germany is a case in point. Many undergraduate courses in Germany are free of tuition fees no matter where the students come from. However, most of the courses are taught in German, so students may need to acquire a certain proficiency in the German language to be able to enrol in the schools. In light of a wider choice and various advantages, many countries mandate students to learn a second language. For example, students in more than 20 European countries are required to learn a foreign language for at least one year.

On top of that, bilinguals/ multilinguals have more study options as they can look into the alternatives in other locations when the desired field of study is not available in their home countries.

What’s more, people who have learnt a foreign language can navigate around the website which is available in local language only. They can easily acquire the most updated local information and take advantage of the publicly available stock of knowledge of that particular country. For example, if you know Korean, you can look for instant local news on South Korea through the search engine NAVER which is frequently used by South Koreans.

At the end of the day, it takes commitment and perseverance to learn a foreign language, but what you would get in return is incomparably more valuable. We hope the benefits of learning a foreign language mentioned above gives you more motivation to pick up a new language. Clearly communication is very much an essential skill in this increasingly globalized world, so do not be afraid of taking this step that will help you advance in life. If you need any advice, from choosing a school, to language proficiency requirement and even application procedures, we are happy to provide assistance to help you embark on the new journey.