The Benefits of Second Language Acquisition by Clinton Loomis

Learning a second language is very important and healthy. Scientific research indicates that it cognitive development.

Learning About Culture

Acquiring a second language helps you learn about different beliefs and cultures by giving you a pool of knowledge and ideas in common with other speakers of your new language.

You then start to understand the origins of certain cultures and how they came to be. When you learn a foreign language, you tend to gain a positive attitude towards other people’s culture and beliefs since.

Associating with other communities also helps children develop a broader view of the world. Children who understand the differences between different communities are also great at coming up with solutions when tensions arise between communities.

Better Problem Solving

If you have a second language, you can use the language to think differently and approach problems differently. This is hugely beneficial when it comes to problem solving. According to research, children who are exposed to a second language at a younger age tend to have a higher IQ than those exposed later on in life.

Bilingual children also tend to exhibit better levels of concentration meaning they tend to learn more quickly as they're paying attention. This extends beyond just language classes, too. Thanks to their improved concentration, bilingual children have an advantage when ti comes to other subjects like math.

Being bilingual is also shown to increase the size of your brain. Bilinguals tend to be more rational and logical when it comes to subjects like science and math. Their rational and logical approach when combined with higher levels of concentration means that they are better at making decisions.

Employment Opportunities

Learning a foreign language can also help when it comes to finding work, especially when it comes to international companies. In fact, some people have even studied a second language solely to improve their careers.

Then there are jobs that come with foreign languages. Foreign language graduates can work in teaching, translation, interpreting, etc. Language graduates can even be found working at immigration services.

Bilingual graduates have also contributed to bringing the world together using language as a bridge. They've also been to communicate with online communities that they wouldn't usually due to the language barrier.

Improving Your First Language

Anyone who mastered a second language is usually fairly well versed in their own language. Additionally, learning vocabulary, grammar, idioms, structures, and conjugations can teach you more about your own language. You start to see the similarities and differences between the two. Learning a foreign language in a specific context, at work, for example, can help you learn more about your own language in contexts you may not be familiar.

Learning a foreign language can also improve your confidence in all your languages and improve your mood. A happy learner is an effective learner and you'll find that, when paired with your improved concentration, you'll learn more quickly than ever. This will help when it comes to multitasking, remembering names and figures, and spatial memory.

Clinton Loomis is an educational specialist who has helped clients write for more than four years. He likes to use his skills to help his students. He can be found on Google+.