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Learning new languages can be tough, especially when you want to learn some of the hardest languages in the world (i.e. Mandarin Chinese and Russian). However, challenging doesn’t mean impossible, and there are lots of benefits to learning a new language.
Read ahead for four benefits to being open-minded to learning new languages and growing your understanding of communications across multiple cultures.
Learning a New Language Can Help Battle Cognitive Diseases
Cognitive diseases, like Alzheimer’s or Dementia, attack the parts of the brain that deal in memories and understanding. There have been studies to suggest that keeping your mind keen and challenged are good ways of combating these cognitive illnesses. Ergo, learning a new language could be challenging enough to stimulate and exercise your brain in the right places.
New Languages = More Friends and Positive Cultural Experiences
Some people have a negative outlook of other cultures because they can’t understand the languages. Learning a new language opens up those cultures to you, allowing you to communicate and interact with others that speak those languages. You could build new friendships, enjoy positive cultural experiences, and expand your knowledge of the world by just learning a different form of communication.
Multi-Lingual Candidates Often Get Those Elusive Dream Jobs
Most people have a dream job; that one place they would love to work, or that one thing they would love to do, but they commonly find themselves overlooked or placed on a waiting list. You could potentially move your name to the forefront of those lists for your dream job by become bilingual or multilingual. Companies often want to hire people that could effectively engage and communicate with prospective clients and customers from all walks of life.
Open New Travel Possibilities or Have a Jumpstart in Studying Abroad
When you study abroad (someplace like an ESL camp), or travel to a new destination, you should absolutely strive to learn the basics of their language to better communicate with locals. Not only will being multi-lingual open up more travel possibilities, but it’s easier to interact with strangers in another place when you know how to speak their language.