On why learning a new language goes beyond its obvious advantages

Dzisiaj nous allons beszélni waarom imparare della Sprache is mucho fun!

This blog will be about one of my main passions: languages. For those who have read most of my blogs you know by now that I have dived into several different topics close to my heart in an effort to understand what might be behind the positive effects I experience — to understand why these selfish acts are in fact strategic. I do all this with the hope that I will be more conscious about it and possibly inspire others.

No series on the topic of strategic selfishness is complete without talking about languages! I have always thoroughly enjoyed learning languages and, at the very least, tried to say hello and thank you in the language of every country I visit. I have also made an effort to converse in less common and/or more challenging languages like Hungarian (a very beautiful tongue, by the way! Igazi nagyon szép nyelv!).

So why is it that learning a new language energizes me? I feel the effect is stronger than one might expect to experience from learning something new. There must be something more. Why is learning a new language one of the better gifts you can give yourself?

It’s good for your brain.

There’s nothing that our brains love more than a good reason to flex and perfect skills, and learning a new language is a fantastic opportunity to do just that. Learning a single, new language has been shown to sharpen both concentration and attention skills, and there’s a very good reason for the improvement.

Aside from the somewhat obvious fact that learning, in general, keeps our brains active, studying language actually increases the size of our brain. Swedish researchers found that studying foreign language changes the structure of the brain based on an individuals’ affinity for learning. Those who had a natural aptitude for language communication skills showed increases in their hippocampus and various regions of the cerebral cortex, while those who were less keen on learning showed growth in the motor region of the cerebral cortex.  

Furthermore — as if a bigger brain isn’t enough — data collected by an Indian researcher suggests that patients who speak more than one language develop dementia an average of four years later than those who do not.

Dan Gable has written a lot about our seeking system, the part of our brain that is energized by learning new things and stimulates the release of dopamine. Without having seen the clinical evidence, I am convinced my seeking system is saying yes, da, igen, and hai to learning new languages.

It’s good for your social and professional life.

It’s no secret that excellent communication skills can enhance your social and professional relationships, and what’s language but an excellent form of communication?

Learning a new language helps forge connections between people, no matter whether they are co-workers, clients, or acquaintances. It takes hard work and diligent effort to effectively transcend cultural borders and create lasting relationships. Relationships require trust. Trust requires communication and communication requires work. When you speak to someone in their native tongue, you’re demonstrating a concerted effort to understand their culture. This instills a sense of comfort in your conversational partner, even if it may be slightly uncomfortable for you. They are more likely to open up when they can speak freely in their own tongue. To most, utilizing the proper language is, essentially, a form of respect.

Additionally, studies have shown that “more than 60% of companies are limited by language barriers in foreign trade” and that “knowing a foreign language can add between 10-15% to your salary.”  One can logically deduce, then, that learning a foreign language can significantly improve your employability, giving you a competitive advantage that can’t be faked or forced. Foreign language skills expand your opportunity base by opening the door to global growth opportunities.

It’s fun and challenging.

Learning new languages generally becomes easier as you go, with your first foreign language being quite difficult to learn and each subsequent language becoming more intuitive. There are still challenges, however. Some languages may use similar words and meanings but employ entirely different grammar. For me, that was one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome.

I had already spent time learning several new languages, but Hungarian was still very challenging due to its grammar. It was like a brain puzzle to solve, which made it quite fun.  Obviously, I made some (quite a few, in fact) mistakes, but that’s natural. Actually, making mistakes is good for the learning process. It forces you to improve. You don’t want to be caught making an embarrassing mistake twice, so you study up on the correct pronunciation or word choice or structure knowing that you’ll never forget that particular phrase again.

Fun also comes from being forced into finding different ways of expressing yourself when you don’t quite know all of the necessary words; when you cannot think of a translation for an ideal word or phrase, you have to become more creative with your word choice. Sometimes this results in a sentence or response that is actually a better fit than you originally intended!

Finally, knowing that there is always a way to communicate is liberating. It reduces the threshold of connecting with people and leads to unexpected associations.  

So for me, mastering or, more realistically in most cases, attempting to master a new language is one of the most energizing things out there. I’ll never get tired of seeing appreciation in the faces of the people I converse with, or the dopamine released by my seeking system when I solve a language challenge. Knowing that no opportunities will be missed on account of language barriers creates confidence and energy. Learning a new language will never be easy, but it will always be beneficial. It truly is a gift to yourself, the kind that keeps on giving.