9 Big Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language

9 Big Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language 9 Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language (+ Resources!) We live in a hyper-connected, fast-paced world, and things arent changing anytime soon.How can you keep your head above water?You need to be hyper-awesome to survive.That means youll have to  develop some special advantages to get a boost, help yourself stand out and make you better fit for survival in this crazy, modern world.As our world becomes more and  more connected through technological advances, its becoming increasingly obvious that learning another language is beneficial for many reasons.Here we present just a few of the many positive side effects of becoming bilingual (or multilingual). 9 Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language (+ Resources!)1. Meet new peopleOne of the most phenomenal benefits of learning a new language? Doors are opened to you  around  the world. If you’re learning in a group setting, you immediately have new friends to share your new language with. If not, then once you go somewhere and are actually able to employ what youve learned, you’ll be s urprised how open people are when you speak their mother tongue.2. Employers love it (and theyll love you more)If your C.V. accolades include fluency in a second language, your chances of employment in today’s economy are much greater for you than for those who speak only one language.Multilingual people are able to communicate and interact within multiple communities. Potential employers consider this a valuable asset in an employee’s skill set, as theyre able to connect with a broader range of people. In this new age of start-ups, companies are increasingly breaking into new markets. You up your personal and professional value if you’re able to negotiate with manufacturers in another country or communicate with customers who don’t speak your native language.Not to mention, your ability to speak a second language conveys that youre motivated and driven to learn new skills, and this also gives you a competitive edge over those who havent yet become bilingual.3. It’s becomi ng essentialMany would argue that bilingualism is becoming a progressively necessary and essential skill for anyone who wants to keep up with today’s rapidly increasing global economy. As more and more people recognize the importance of learning an additional language, those who only speak one language will begin to get left behind in our shift towards a more integrated and connected global society.4. It’s great for travelingAustrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein is credited with saying that “the limits of your language are the limits of your world,” and he was right.Knowing more than one language opens up your vacation destination possibilities. Traveling through a foreign country becomes much easier if you can speak the language of that country. Fluency isnt required. Locals anywhere appreciate that youve taken the time to at least attempt to learn and communicate in their tongue. It shows a greater level of respect and is an easy way to meet new people.Also, getting to a comfortable speaking level in a foreign language is a great motivator to get you out there and practicing your new language in a new country.Not ready to rush off to a foreign land just yet? Not a problem. You can start exploring the everyday cultures of the countries where your target language is spoken with FluentU right now. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.5. After learning one, it’s 1000x easier to learn anotherAs you begin to learn a second language, youll find that the acquisition techniques you’re using can be applied to learning additional languages as well.The positive cognitive effects of learning to speak a second language can train the brain to analyze and process different linguistic structures. Its not specific to your first target language its a skill that can be applied to learning any language.Youre increasing your ability to replicate the process with multiple languages. This is called metalinguistic awareness, where your brain learns to identify  the techniques of learning a language and break them  down into a series of steps. After learning one language, you retain the muscle memory. Your brain will intrinsically understand how to learn a language and how different languages are structured, through increased awareness of syntax, grammar and sentence structure.6. You become smarterAcquiring a second language improves your memory and increases your attention span. The process of becoming bilingual exercises your brain, challenges you to concentrate and boosts your problem solving skills.Bilingual students tend to score higher on standardized tests than monolingual students, especially in the areas of vocabulary, reading and math. As you learn to toggle from one language to another, you improve  your multitasking abilities. Bilingual individuals have also been shown to be more logical and rational, have better decision-making ski lls and be more perceptive and aware of their surroundings.Learning a second language also improves your native language, as it teaches you the mechanics and structure behind any  language not just new  languages.7. Youll stay smarter for longerRecent research has shown that bilingualism can stave off the effects of Alzheimers  and dementia by  years.  Regardless of their education level, gender or occupation, bilingual subjects in the linked study experienced the onset of Alzheimers, on average, 4 1/2 years later than monolingual subjects did.Study results out of the American Academy of Neurology are showing that speaking more than one language increases the amount of neural pathways in the brain, allowing information to be processed through a greater variety of channels. Theyve also begun to demonstrate that multilingualism improves development in the brain’s areas of executive function and attention, no matter what age the language learner is.8.  It boosts your creativityResea rchers are also concluding that multilingual speakers are more creative than monolingual speakers. Learning a foreign language improves not only your ability to solve problems and to think more logically, it also makes you experiment with new words and phrases.Leveling up your second language skills forces you to reach for alternate words when you can’t quite remember the original one you wanted to use. It improves  your skills in divergent thinking, which is the ability to identify multiple solutions to a single problem.9. It builds up your self-confidenceYoure about to teach yourself to believe, yes, I can. Itll become your new personal mantra.Confidence increases when a new skill is mastered, and learning a foreign language is no different. It increases your self-confidence. And let’s face it: confident people are more interesting than those who are unsure of themselves. The techniques you use to develop a second tongue result in a greater sense of open-mindedness.In order to master a new language, conversations with native and fluent speakers are essential. If you’re shy but want to meet new people, using the excuse that you want to practice your speaking skills is a great opener and a doorway to making new friends, expanding your horizons and broadening your life experiences. Plus, who doesn’t want to be more interesting?So, How Do I Get Started?Fortunately, gone are the days where the only way to learn a second language was to either become stranded in a foreign country or go back to high school language  classes (and be honest, did you actually learn all that much in there?) There are now many different online lessons and tutorials to help you become proficient in the language of your choice.FluentU  stands out amongst language learning websites thanks to the huge range of interactive learning opportunities it provides.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.  Its all stuff that nati ve speakers  actually watch.  With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU has quizzes for every videoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website   with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.Aside from FluentU, Duolingo is a really popular way to learn a language on-the-go. They provide a handy app that you can take with you anywhere!No matter which tools you use when you decide to learn a language, just decide to learn one! You won’t regret it.