Why learn a foreign language?

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We should learn languages because languages are the only thing worth knowing even poorly. ~ Polyglot: How I Learn Languages - Kató Lomb

Even if you’re an English speaker (and realistically, I think only monolingual English speakers ever find themselves asking this question), only 1.5 billion people worldwide speak the language. There are almost 8 billion people in the world. So, approximately 80% of people do not speak English.

Cognitive Benefits

  • link between bilingualism and cognitive flexibility
  • people who speak other languages often exhibit more empathy and a global mindset
  • strong evidence of a positive effect of learning a language on creativity in language use - in a speaker’s first language
  • most studies report that learning a language has a positive impact on academic achievement across a range of other subjects
  • dual language learners may lag behind monolinguals at first, but catch up and show the most benefit across subjects after several years’ immersion
  • there may be a link between bilingualism and the prevention of dementia, but more research needs to be carried out

Read more:

‘The cognitive benefits of language learning’ in two minutes - Benjamin Kulka, The British Academy

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