Benefits of Learning a Second Language

A lot of my friends and family ask me why, as a certified teacher, would I want to move to Spain to teach English as an assistant instead of looking for a permanent job here, in the USA.  Other than the fact that I love Spain and want to be closer to my boyfriend, is that learning a second language is SO very important.  And is something I, and my whole family, are very passionate about.

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My grandmother was well-known in the foreign language community as a long-time high school Spanish teacher and an active member of multiple language organizations.  My mother also was a Spanish teacher but at the elementary school level.  Both have instilled in me the value of second language learning, particularly at a young age!

If you're considering an attempt to learn another language, or if you're teaching abroad and you're questioning your importance in the class (or have family that is not supportive), here are just some of the benefits of learning a second language.

The Younger You Learn, the Better Your Ability

Research over the years has argued that there is an optimal window for learning a second language, a time when our minds are more open and able to pick up the language easily with little accent.  In a February 1996 Newsweek article, Sharon Begley claimed: this "'learning window' of opportunity for language learning is indicated from birth to ten years...it's far easier for an elementary school child to hear and process a second language and even speak it without an accent."  Whether cognitively more able than adults or not, young children are generally more open and interested in learning another language and about another culture.  They are naturally inquisitive and learning a second language can be both fun and exciting for them.

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I once did a report on the benefits of Early Language Learning back in high school.  I compared student work from my mom's 5th grade students, that she had been with since kindergarten, to what I had done in my own 10th grade Spanish class.  Everyone in my class was shocked that we were working on the exact same concepts.   Just think if they continued their language studies all the way through college...

Increased Opportunity for Jobs

Knowing a second language is extremely important in the job search nowadays.  In a world as global as ours is, it has become increasingly valuable to be able to communicate with people from other countries and backgrounds.  Many companies have contacts or positions overseas, most educators have students coming from various countries with differing language abilities, and in general you will encounter people that speak other languages in most places you will work .  Being bi-lingual, or even tri-lingual, is a huge selling point to have on your resume and could be what makes you stand out from a sea of other candidates.

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From my personal experience, I had one practicum teaching experience where the majority of students spoke Spanish as their native language but the teacher knew no Spanish.  Knowing Spanish helped me communicate with these young students and help provide better support in the classroom.

Improved Grasp of Native Language

Learning a second language also helps improve the grasp of one's native language.  Too often we may forget the specific grammar and structural rules of our own language, but learning another language forces us to re-examine these rules as we are often comparing our native language to the second.  Most people who are learning a foreign language show improved knowledge in reading, grammar, writing, and overall critical thinking.

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Learning Spanish helped me have a better grasp in different areas of English like: direct and indirect object pronouns, various verb tenses, a rich extended vocabulary, adverbs, and of course general memorization.  Not to mention knowing Spanish seriously helped me with the often Latin-based SAT vocabulary words.

Increased Mental Capacity

While learning a second language helps improve your grasp of your native language, studies have also shown that in general studying a foreign language increases your mental capacity.  Some of these benefits on mental capacity range from things like increased problem solving abilities, high memorization skills, better communication skills, and increased creativity.  And these are not limited to younger learners, studying a second language is beneficial to people of all ages.  It is a mental challenge, and challenging your brain is always beneficial.  Recent studies have shown correlations between studying a second language and postponing the effects of Dementia.  This claim is made based on studies on the brain showing that the challenge of learning, and using, a second language helps keep the brain active and strong.

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Travel Benefits

It is often the stereotype of traveling Americans that we will only speak English while in a foreign country without even trying a few words in the local language.  This may not be true for all, but many American in reality do not know a second language.  This can make it difficult for those traveling internationally (I know I was surprised how few people over the age of 30ish in Spain didn't know English, really made me appreciate knowing Spanish!) as you may not always find people who speak English.

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Knowing even a few words in the local language can be extremely beneficial for international travel; it shows respect for the local culture and often will cause natives to be more accepting and welcoming of the traveler.  Wherever I travel I try to know a few basic words like: hello, have a nice day, thank you, please, and your welcome.  I've always found that even this small effort is very appreciated by the people I speak with (not to mention natives usually have a great knowledge of local places off the usual tourist radar).

Are you studying another language?  What benefits have you found from learning a foreign language?