7 Strong Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language

By Justin Osborne on August 24, 2017 - Fact checked by Dumb Little Man

by Justin Osborne August 24, 2017

Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”.

This quote couldn’t be more precise.

As humans, we are attracted to other humans with whom we have something in common. If there’s something that two persons both like, hate or want, a rapport will suddenly grow and their connection instantly grows stronger.

One of the most common things that bonds people together is the language they speak. Obviously, if someone talks to you using your native language, you’ll be treating him differently compared to someone who speaks a foreign one.

Yet, even though learning a new language is extremely beneficial for several reasons, very few of us are really taking action. We’re somehow afraid of the hustle and work that comes with the process.

We can change our attitude by simply acknowledging the strong reasons of learning a foreign language. In today’s post, we’re going to convince you to pick a foreign language and start learning it immediately. Without further ado, let’s begin.

More Professional And Personal Opportunities

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” ‒ Frank Smith

You’ve obviously seen a lot of employers looking for individuals who can speak more than one language. If you know more than just your native language, you’ll find more job opportunities along with better payments.

Moreover, the personal opportunities will be more numerous, too. You can communicate with more people, build new relationships and learn from different mindsets.

So, you see a hot person in the bar and you want to get in touch. You can use a foreign language to get a better chance of capturing the stranger’s attention.

Improved Cognitive Performance

When we learn new things, we’re using different cognitive functions, like our memory and problem-solving aptitudes. It’s no secret that learning a new language will make you a “smarter” person.

It doesn’t really matter what language you’re learning, how old you are or how smart you are. Your attention span will be improved. You’ll have a better memory in time and you’ll develop a strong resistance to age-related diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Ability to Establish Strong Connections with Other Nationalities

As mentioned earlier, grasping a basic understanding of a foreign language should open the gates of communication between you and other nationalities. It will not only help you in asking for specific information during your traveling journeys, but it can also help you build a friendship out of a small talk.

Connecting with people from other countries and cultures is truly important because it’ll help you become more open minded and tolerant. It’ll help you acquire tons of knowledge that would otherwise be impossible to gain.

Better Traveling Experience

Every one of you probably likes to travel. After all, all of us are curious what life looks like in different places. While grasping a foreign language, you can certainly enjoy a more intense experience while traveling abroad. That’s because you won’t just sit quietly and travel alone.

Instead, you can find travel buddies, talk to locals, hook up with beautiful men/women, build a lasting relationship and much more.

Better Self-Control and Smarter Decisions

It has also been proven that bilingual brains are much better at self-controlling. Even though self-control also represents a cognitive function, it’s still worth noting how helpful such skill is in our daily lives.

Moreover, another study shows that learning a second language can help you make better decisions in life. The study emphasizes the fact that when a person speaks a foreign language, his tendency towards loss aversion significantly decreases.

See Your Own Culture from an Outsider’s Perspective

“You can never understand one language until you understand at least two” – Geoffrey Willans

Learning a second language will give you a lot of new insights. You’ll be able to understand how other foreigners perceive your country and culture. You’ll also see a lot of differences in your own perception, too.

Better Learner & Better Problem Solver

When you learn a new language, you keep solving problems. When you listen to a foreigner – or even better, if you talk to him – your brain continuously works. It works hard in order to make things clear. This type of ‘brain exercise’ is extremely beneficial in the long term because you’ll advance into a better learner.

Moreover, you’ll solve your problems faster and more efficiently. The reason is that by learning that foreign language, your brain has already “grown muscles” that allow you to “lift” your problems without a lot of hustle.

Takeaways

To learn a new language isn’t rocket science, yet it’s not that simple either. It all depends on your linguistic talents, the work you put in and the mindset you develop. Do this now, and you’ll praise yourself later.

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Author: Justin Osborne

Justin is a teacher from Leicester, England, UK. When not teaching his little students and rooting for Leicester FC, he loves to share his thoughts and opinions about education, writing and blogging with other people on different blogs and forums. Currently, he is working as an editor at the writing service Bestdissertation.com