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Learning a new language may seem like a hard task. But anyone who has gone through the effort of knows that it\u2019s definitely worth it. There are so many reasons why learning a language can enrich your life, and in this article, we\u2019ll look at 7 of the best reasons why it should definitely be something you tick off your bucket list.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s kind of stating the obvious here, but the best reason to do this is simply because you can. There are no downsides to learning a new language, but there are plenty of benefits. If you really believe it\u2019s too difficult, then consider this: children in countries where English is the second language can often speak it fluently before the age of 10. If a young child can learn a second language, why can\u2019t you?<\/em><\/p>\n If you can speak a second language, it\u2019ll be easier to find a job later and you can work in foreign countries.<\/p>\n Here are four reasons why speaking a second language can help you in your career:<\/p>\n In an increasingly globalised world, knowing a second language can give you a competitive edge and make your job easier. The skill is especially useful in the following industries: hospitality, healthcare, sales, education, legal, trades, and IT.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, there are always going to be jobs available for translators and linguists. There are employment opportunities in schools, intelligence agencies, call centres, tourism businesses, and major corporations. Knowing the local language will also make it easier if you\u2019re intending to teach English in a foreign country.<\/p>\n If improving your employment prospects is the primary motivation for learning a new language, then it\u2019s best to choose one that provides good opportunity. Spanish, for example, is the primary language in 22 countries, and there are 52 million Spanish-speaking people in the United States alone. Bulgarian, on the other hand, is only widely spoken in Bulgaria.<\/p>\n For work in the tourism sector, languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and French may prove useful. For intelligence, policing, and military work, all languages are in demand (even Bulgarian), but especially:<\/p>\n Knowing a foreign language obviously helps to smooth the way when you are travelling in a country where that language is widely spoken. Some languages even help you in countries where the language is not the primary language.<\/p>\n For example, knowing Indonesian will also be helpful when travelling in Malaysia, because the two languages are very closely related. Most Indonesians can understand Malaysian, and most Malaysians can understand Indonesian. Many other languages have similar crossover ability.<\/p>\n Even the word \u2018cognitive\u2019 comes into English from another language (Latin). Numerous studies have found that learning additional languages has many benefits to the mind. Among the benefits claimed include<\/a>:<\/p>\n As you can see, learning a new language is a good workout for your brain, making it healthier and more engaged, so you\u2019re less likely to experience memory loss and cognitive decline. And most importantly, you don\u2019t have to be fluent to reap these benefits!<\/p>\n How exactly does learning a new language benefit your brain?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Learning a new language will make your brain more efficient<\/a>, as you\u2019ll activate different brain networks, including areas that are known for speech comprehension, and use less brain power to solve tasks.<\/p>\n Additionally, it\u2019ll increase the size of your brain\u2019s language centres and the hippocampus<\/a>, which is the area of your brain that\u2019s responsible for forming, storing, and retrieving memories. It\u2019ll also increase the density of grey matter<\/a> (size and number of nerve cells) in the auditory, motor, and visual-spatial areas of your brain. What\u2019s more, you\u2019ll have better-maintained white matter<\/a> (nerve fibres) in your brain.<\/p>\n Learning a new language will also boost the number of neural pathways between parts of your brain<\/a> and you\u2019ll develop better connectivity between different regions of your brain.<\/p>\n\n \n \n Find your next course with ICI<\/strong>\n <\/div>\n Learn More<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>2. Banish the possibility of unemployment<\/h2>\n
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3. It can make travel easier and more interesting<\/h2>\n
4. There are cognitive benefits<\/h2>\n
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