Learning a new language is the default new skill of the millennial generation. It looks like every self-deprecation session on a Sunday night leads you to believe that you need to learn a new language and travel more often, only to discover that affording to travel is going to be an issue. And so, it is better to settle with the cheaper option: learning a new language.
Beyond your capacity to keep yourself accountable, learning a new language is a good idea for multiple reasons. In recent years, research has discussed the power of boosting your confidence by engaging in a new language. It is a slow process indeed. However, small achievements will build your confidence. Your ability to push yourself forward will make you feel confident in your capabilities.
At the same time, this practice will enhance your memory. Research has shown that language skills help the growth of the hippocampus, the area in the brain in the cerebral cortex which is linked to memory and action. Multiple studies in bilingual children have indicated that bilingual children tend to have a better working memory.
The journey of learning a new language will, in general, stimulate your brain and grow your grey matter because you are gaining a whole new world of grammar and lexis. While you already have knowledge of a previous language, learning a new one gives your brain the perfect exercise to become stronger. An article from the University of the Potomac explains that we tend to use the left side of our brains while speaking in our native tongue. However, usage of the brain with a new language isn’t limited to a specific hemisphere. This leads to an increase in the size of the white and grey matter in the brain.
Additionally, learning a new language will enrich your cultural awareness and expose you to new perspectives and values. It will also teach you about the history and customs of its native speakers. It will increase your awareness and empathy, which are vital tools to build positive relations and resolve conflicts.
Moreover, learning a new language increases tolerance for ambiguity. Research on motivation and anxiety has shown that learning a second language can improve the overall tolerance to unfamiliar situations, given that almost all conversations in a foreign language involve new words. The learning curve will constantly move around, and your comfort with the unfamiliar situation will increase.
Marvellous, isn’t it, to think that you can make such a crucial decision from that small existential crisis on a Sunday night? Learning a new language also helps self-development. Professionally, being bilingual is a very valuable skill. Bergen (2021) stated that learning a second language makes you a standout candidate, even if you don’t feel fully fluent. The experience of learning and practising a second language indicates that you can understand multiple perspectives, develop problem-solving capabilities, and possess creativity and inventiveness.
A learning journey is always rewarding. It doesn’t matter where it takes you. Taking classes to learn a new language can allow you to engage with other people in a similar situation as you are, and perhaps find new friends. If you are more of an introvert, you can practice at home with apps like Duolingo or Babel. Becoming familiar with another language can take simple routine changes, such as listening to foreign music and movies.
Given the versatility of technologies these days, you can tailor the way you want to learn something, the intensity, and the objective. Eventually, it it could become more of a hobby than a studying session. It’s something you can add to your care routine that will give you incredible benefits. It may open your perspective to new things that can help you find new interests.