Learning a second language, and more languages is not only profitable but also necessary. International students studying abroad would find it very important to learn the language of their school abroad.
It may sound difficult, but with the availability of online language learning websites and apps, you could easily learn more languages.
It may not be profitable to learn a new language until you are surrounded by people who speak a language you do not understand. In addition, it is a pride to be able to communicate with people of different races and cultures in their own languages.
There are many reasons why you need to learn a second language, so let’s get on to the top 20. Also, in this article, we will show you places online that you can easily navigate to learn a second language. But first, let’s show why you should learn another language.
The Benefits of learning a second language
Here are the benefits of learning a second language:
- Increase employment opportunities
- Increase your understanding of the world
- Improve your memory
- Opportunity to meet new people
- Improve your multitasking ability
- It becomes easier to learn another language
- Build your confidence
- It will be essential
- Increase your chances of traveling
- Improve your mother tongue
- Boost your brain
- It increases networking capabilities
- It is an achievement in itself
- It improves your decision-making skills
- You experience new cultures
- Your brain is getting bigger
- Lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases
- It helps you stay smart in tourist areas
- It increases your creativity
#1. Increase employment opportunities
Have you ever seen a job advertisement that specifically states that applicants must speak a certain language? Yes, there are some, especially if you hope to find a job outside of your home country. Learning a second language also opens up a world of career opportunities for you. From freelancers to interpreters, educators, and just about every industry.
The world is changing rapidly and more and more companies are opening offices in various parts of the world. You must be an outgoing person who speaks another foreign language before they hire you. Even in companies in your home country, your ability to speak a second language can guarantee you a job.
#2. Increase your understanding of the world
We all thirst for a better understanding of the world we live in. This is the reason for all of our studies. We are also not satisfied with what we know about our country. Without knowing how other countries work, we don’t feel like we have enough knowledge. Until then, we will limit ourselves to what we can know about other countries by language.
So when we understand a new language, we take a step to explore the world. You have instant access to books, movies, TV shows, and newspapers from the country that speaks that language. This gives you a real insight into the history and culture of the nation.
#3. Improve your memory
Learning a second language also includes communicating in different languages. You are not learning a language that you will not interact with. Therefore, to learn another language effectively, train your memory. In fact, it now includes more information that you can get regularly and quickly.
A new language requires not only knowledge of vocabulary and rules, but also the ability to memorize and apply the knowledge. And using this new language every day is like taking your brain to the gym. It just gets better and sharper. Being multilingual is a quick way to memorize names, addresses, facts, and numbers.
#4. Improve your multitasking ability
By requesting different linguistic information from the brain and switching languages, you are multitasking the brain at the same time. Some people also refer to this brain multitasking as mental juggling. Since the bilingual brain is used to switching and leaving languages, it is better adapted to activities with high mental abilities. For example, eliminate irrelevant information and focus on important information. They do better multitasking.
According to a study from Pennsylvania State University, multilingual people are better able to prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects at the same time.
#5. Improve performance in other academic fields
Learning a second language leads to higher cognitive abilities and therefore improves the academic level of the student. Because bilingual students can focus and multitask better than their classmates, they are ready to do better on standardized tests. You are very good at math, reading, and vocabulary, as well as other problem-solving tasks.
You can also check out the US Department of Education and Culture Critical Language Scholarship Program for funding to learn a language.
#6. Opportunity to meet new people
If you are the type who loves meeting and interacting with new people, learning a new language should be a priority. As you learn new languages, doors open for you to socialize around the world. For example, you can make new friends instantly if you study in a group. If you haven’t started testing your new language with group members, you can meet people online. People connect with you better when you speak their mother tongue.
#7. It becomes easier to learn another language
When you learn a second language successfully, you can easily learn another language. The techniques with which you learned the second language become useful for another language. As the cognitive process increases, so does your ability to replicate the language learning process with multiple languages.
Your brain learns to identify language learning techniques and break them down into a series of steps. After learning a language, your brain will understand for itself how different languages are structured. Due to a better understanding of the syntax, grammar, and sentence structure.
Do you speak Korea, if no, here is an opportunity to learn How To Study Korean. See 15 Effective Study Tips
#8. Build your confidence
You have to make mistakes when discovering a new language. Make some of these mistakes in front of an audience. It is good for the learning process. You will find that the more people laugh at your mistakes, the more determination you develop to improve. Put your new language skills to the test in front of a wider audience. Of course, you step out of your comfort zone, the fruit of which is a deep sense of accomplishment.
You may also be interested in these 12 Most Effective Testing Tips and Strategies.
#9. It will be essential
The world is still progressive and now everything is being done on a global scale. You cannot remain monolingual if you want to assert yourself positively or reach a wider audience. Becoming bilingual is increasingly important. It is not only a pride to be able to speak more than one language, but a declaration that you are still relevant in a global society.
#10. Increase your chances of traveling
Nothing increases your thirst for adventure in various countries more than the ability to communicate in major foreign languages. For example, if you are learning Spanish, you will love traveling to more than 20 countries where Spanish is the main language. They are sure to be accepted in a country where you can communicate in your language. Therefore, you will have no problem adding these countries to your travel list.
If you have a good command of the Spanish language, you can consult this list of scholarships in Spanish for international students who want to study in Spain.
#11. Improve your mother tongue
As you learn a new language, you will become more aware of the basics and complexities of your own language. This is the result of the natural comparison that arises from multilingualism. Start to see how your language differs from the other language. When you automatically interpret phrases in your second language, in your heart, in your mother tongue. This will help you better understand your own language.
#12. Boost your brain
Learning a new language is quite complex. It follows a completely new and complicated system of rules, structures, and lexicons. So your brain has to work harder. You have to deal with the complexities of understanding and absorbing new models.
As your brain begins to grasp the new meanings of words and helps you communicate, it develops cognitive thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills are beneficial both on a personal and professional level.
#13. It increases networking capabilities
Networking is one of the social benefits of learning a second language. It is an important part of today’s business world.
You reach greater heights and achieve more when you network with others. However, the language barrier can limit the expansion of your network. Being able to communicate in a person’s native language also makes you more aware of their culture.
This makes you more flexible and you appreciate their opinions and facts. That way you can identify well with different groups of people and make better enriching connections.
#14. It is an achievement in itself
When we learn something new, we feel like we did a great job. You get the same sense of achievement when you learn a second language. Since it was not easy to master a second language, you can rightfully show off your new knowledge. Plus, it’s a skill worth adding to your resume, one that your employers will love to see. The sense of accomplishment you get from learning a new language will also help you learn another language.
You can also learn to improve your resume for international students by following these 21 essential tips.
#15. It improves your decision-making skills
The psychological benefits of learning a second language are that it helps us in decision-making. Mastering a new language is more than you think. Sometimes we make the wrong decisions or don’t make decisions because of the disruption of our emotions. We make better decisions by allowing rationality only the right amount of emotion. If you master a foreign language, you are better able to make better decisions.
Researchers from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona support the emotional distance needed to master a foreign language. Their studies suggest that using a foreign language makes people more useful, which consequently leads to better decision-making
#16. You experience new cultures
Just as languages differ, so are the world’s cultures. How do people around the world live? How do you behave? What are their values? These are questions our naturally curious mind asks. We want to get to know other people and their culture outside of ourselves and our people. Understanding a new language will help you understand the culture of the people who speak the language better. As you may already know, language is an aspect of culture.
You will appreciate people’s history, music, fashion, and literature better if you can read, write and communicate in their language.
#17. Your brain is getting bigger
As fun as it sounds, yes, your brain gets bigger when you’re bilingual. And we’re not talking about getting bigger from a brain tumor here. We mean that if you understand more than one language, you may have more gray matter in a significant portion of your brain.
Initially, people believed that bilingualism slowed language development in children. However, research by Georgetown University Medical Center has proven otherwise. In fact, bilingual individuals outperform monolingual individuals in tasks requiring attention, inhibition, and short-term memory, collectively known as “executive control.”
#18. Lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are diseases of the elderly and may be unavoidable for some. However, recent research shows that speaking two languages requires some form of brain training. Switching between two languages also requires a certain kind of attention. People who exercise their brain’s executive function reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Suvarna Alladi, one of the researchers, said, “It is believed that speaking more than one language improves the development of areas of the brain that perform executive and attentional functions, which may help protect against the onset of dementia.”
#19. It helps you stay smart in tourist areas
Staying smart in a tourist area is one of the cultural benefits of learning a second language. Understanding the language of a place you visit will make it easier for you to fit into the culture. They become smart enough to wear their clothes and act like the people there.
This is especially useful in places where tourists are easy prey or the target of scammers. This vigilance will make your visit more exciting and will of course encourage you to make new friends as you will also be less of a target in relation to the locals.
#20. It increases your creativity
This is one of the benefits of learning a second language in school. The in-depth knowledge that comes with learning a new language encourages creativity. When you combine your language with a second language, you will find that you can express yourself more creatively. You can also turn to alternative words if you can’t remember the original you were looking for.
This increases your creativity and allows you to experiment with new words and phrases. You will also get used to thinking outside the box and solving complex problems by looking for alternative options.
When you are sure that you are creative, you can apply for the 2019 Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity.
Do you know that with a second language, you can study abroad at ease without having a language barrier? For instance, if you learn French, you can Study Abroad In Italy
Health Benefits of Learning a Second Language
Below are the incredible Health Benefits of Learning a Second Language
- Increased brain size
- Prevention of dementia
- Better math skills
- Lively creativity
- Become more refined
- More trust and better decision making
- Sharper memory
- Extended attention span
Where can you learn a second language?
After realizing the benefits of learning a second language, you may already want to learn a second language. Your next question is: Where can I learn a new language? The answer is simple: you can learn languages in educational institutions and online through dedicated websites and apps.
There are several brick buildings you can learn a new language is, but of course, that comes at a price. Most of these can be very expensive. In the meantime, it’s not like your employer puts you on a sabbatical year so you can fulfill your personal desire to learn a second language.
If you’d rather take an online course, here are 45 free online courses with printable certificates that you can take right away.
Thinking about your second option – online – gives you free time to learn a new language at your own pace. You will also save a lot of money as some of these online language learning platforms are free. They also give you great options. You can choose from beginner and introductory courses, conversation courses, and comprehensive courses that will make you fluent. With these free courses, you can decide whether you can really invest time and energy in learning a second language.
Here are some online language-learning platforms that you can try.
a. Open Culture
With OpenCulture you can learn a popular language like English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, or Mandarin. The online language learning platform offers a total of 48 free language course options in the download portal. You can download Farsi / Persian, Estonian, Icelandic, Gaelic, and many other languages as free MP3 downloads to download and listen to later.
b. Duolingo
While effective in language learning, Duolingo is also fun and addicting. This online language learning service takes a playful approach to learning and offers apps for iOS, Windows Phone, and Android. Create a profile to get started. You can then start a beginner course or take a test to advance to an advanced lesson. Duolingo is completely free to use.
c. Livemocha
Livemocha is an online language learning platform that gives you free lessons in 35 languages. It also has a vibrant community of native speakers from 190 countries. You can connect with people in the community to practice your speaking.
d. Babbel
Babbel lets you learn 14 new languages including English, French, German, Portuguese, Swedish, and Turkish. This online language learning platform not only teaches you to speak but also teaches you to speak, read and write in the language of your choice. Babel also has mobile apps and beginner courses are available for free.
However, if you wish, you can upgrade to a paid course. Pricing starts at $ 6.95 per month when you sign up for a year.
e. Busuu
One of the most popular platforms, Busuu, has more than 50 million native language users. The approach is unique in that you become part of a social community where you can learn languages from others. They also offer the Global Scale of English Tests (GSET) certification if you’ve practiced English and want to see where you stand.
f. Learn a language
Learning a language is a great option for you if you want an easy language-learning option. The USA The Institute of Languages created this online language learning platform to help people fill in the gaps in language communication. The platform uses the Visual Link teaching method developed by David S. Clark.
g. Surface languages
Surface languages, as the name suggests, provide you with some knowledge of a language. It’s a great choice if you’re traveling to a new workspace and just want to pick up on a few conversation clues before leaving. This online language-learning platform uses audio, flashcards, and games to help you learn words and phrases you may encounter in normal situations in another country.
h. Transparent language
Transparent Language offers you language courses that are subject to a fee. However, there is both a free trial and an email option to get free language learning resources. However, you need to sign up to get email functionality. This online language-learning platform covers more than 100 different languages. You can find any language here.
i. Mango languages
With Mango, you get language tuition in more than 60 languages including Spanish, Swahili, Punjabi, and Icelandic. This online language learning platform is unique in that it is the first film-based language and culture learning system on the market.
Mango Languages is available on the web and in mobile apps. Plus, you can buy Mango for $ 20 per month or get free access to any public library in the US or Canada.
Conclusion
Learning a second language can open doors that were previously closed to you. You can build better networks to enrich your life and business, make new friends, and explore the world better when you speak people’s mother tongues.
While it sounds incredulous, if you are bilingual, you can delay your chances of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 4.5 years. It’s not worth being bilingual now. So check out our list of free online language learning platforms and master a second language today.
Learning A Second Language- FAQ
what are the benefits of learning a second language at a young age?
- Children learn faster and easier.
- Improve creativity and problem solving
- Enhance future career opportunities.
- Connect with other cultures and build tolerance.
- Prevent age-related mental illness.
What are the Health Benefits of Learning a Second Language?
- Increased brain size
- Prevention of dementia
- Sharper memory
- Extended attention span
What are the Career Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language in 2023?
- Provides a fresh worldview
- New job opportunities
- Aids acculturation
- Networking across borders
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