Learn A New Language! Pros Of Being A Polyglot

By Julia Dunn on August 29, 2016

All of us have a native language, and often, we are encouraged to learn other languages in addition to that language to better communicate with the world.

Although some of us may not be fluent in more than one language, it’s always an asset to be proficient in one or more additional languages. If learning Spanish, German, or some other language has been on your life’s to-do list for awhile, there’s no reason to hesitate!

Read on for valuable reasons to learn another language, as well as suggestions on how to begin:

Why should I learn another language?

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The more languages you know, the more people you’ll be able to interact with! Being multilingual increases your social sphere, and if your community is internationally diverse, you might be able to see the practicality of learning other languages more immediately.

Furthermore, learning another language is great for your brain. It takes some amount of cognitive work to switch back and forth between your native language and your learned language, and learning all of the nuances, grammar rules and irregularities of a language can be so technical that your brain will be hard at work conjugating verbs and recalling miscellaneous words in the new language. Language-learning keeps your brain sharp, alert and high-functioning; it may even cause you to live longer (or at least keep your brain agile as you age).

Another reason to learn another language? You might do better on standardized tests.

Learning another language is bound to teach you word roots you might not have known before, and if you know more word roots, you’ll be better able to decipher word meanings even if you don’t know the exact definition in its entirety. Different languages have a lot in common with one another, so your knowledge of a new language might even strengthen your understanding and usage of your native/most often used language.

Knowing multiple languages also makes you stand out immensely in a pool of job applicants!

How should I get started?

Image via Pixabay.com

1.) Take a class.

If you’re in college and have a gap in your schedule, why not take a language class? In introductory language classes, you have the benefit of learning with peers and those motivated to learn another language the way you are. In a classroom setting, you’ll be able to try out your new useful phrases with other students and maybe even create small skits with a group of students where you can apply some of your new knowledge and reinforce common words and basics of language learning.

You’ll also be able to visit your professor’s office hours to get clarification on a tricky sentence construction you’ve been mishandling, and you can even practice having a basic conversation with them if you’d like. You might as well take advantage of your resources as long as you’ve got a language class, and there’s no better way to make sure you’re understanding things correctly than to check with your instructor or teaching assistant!

If you’re not in college, try out online language-learning programs or free online courses! The internet has lots of great resources in this regard.

2.) Get an app.

Short on time but still want to learn a language on the side? Download a free mobile application!

One especially noteworthy language-learning app is Duolingo, which guides you through learning basics like “hello,” “goodbye,” and “nice to meet you” to constructing full-on sentences involving specific types of professions, several different tenses, and complex ideas.

The app quizzes you in several different fashions to gauge your understanding and memory of different terms in different contexts. In some quiz questions, you may be given a sentence in your native language and asked to type out its equivalent in the language you’re learning, or the reverse.

Other times, a voice will say a sentence and you have to repeat the sentence by recording your voice using your phone–this will test your pronunciation, which is often an insecurity for those just starting out in another language, and there won’t be anyone around to judge you if you say something incorrectly on the first few tries — only the app will hear you!

Some questions involve a word bank, where you physically drag the words in your new language into the right order to match a sentence in your primary language. With apps like Duolingo, your progress is tracked through memory bars that will ensure you practice enough each day to retain the terms you learn!

Another great thing about the app? It’s helpful for those who already know a bit of a second language but haven’t practiced in awhile; if you know the basics, you can test out of certain rudimentary lessons on the app so you’re brought up to speed quickly and refreshed enough to move forward in your learning.

3.) Find a friend.

Looking for a more casual means of adding a second language to your communicative repertoire? Find a friend who knows the language you want to know, and ask whether they’d be willing to help you. Although this is not as intense as some other language learning methods, you’ll still get a bit of exposure and guidance from someone who knows the language well, and you’ll be able to practice with someone you know!

Enjoy!

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