11 Ultimate Benefits of Learning a Second Language - GetGIS

Are you aware that having proficiency in a second language broadens your horizons of overall personal and professional development?

Learning a second language is not just to demonstrate your ability to communicate in different linguistics but rather could be a powerful demonstration of your adaptability and flexible nature which could contribute to gaining better job opportunities and career prospects. In order to achieve better career opportunities, you don't always need hard skills, but also soft skills, and most importantly, today, with the increased globalization, the importance of effective communication is crucial to business success.

Having said that lets us understand in detail the benefits gained by learning a second language.

11 Benefits of Learning a Second Language

1. Helps in professional growth

Being bilingual triangle 1 increases your scope of employment in a foreign country. Language skills add an unmatchable competitive advantage that sets you apart from your peers. It is one of the top considered skill sets for all occupations, immigration, and study visas.

“In today’s global economy businesses require employees who can serve customers in a variety of languages.”

John Feinblatt

(chairman of the New American Economy)

One of the reports by the New American economy states that the demand for bilingual workers in the United States had doubled in just 5 years and different businesses, Non-profit groups, and along with the government had launched the ‘Lead with Language campaign’ which is a multi-year campaign which focuses on reverting the language skills gap, encouraging foreign language learning a priority.

2. Improves your communication ability

With the increasing globalization, it’s a no-doubt fact that with you climbing up the steps management would require you to communicate with people belonging to different states and or countries. Given such a scenario, your inability to understand the local language might be a hindrance no matter how efficient you might be in terms of work.

Knowing a second language is an advantage even in your day-to-day life as we never know when you might run into a stranger and just because you know their language you could benefit from a lifetime friendship with them.

3. Strengthens your intangible connection with other cultures: Social butterfly

Languages are a direct form of communication, just by being able to communicate their language you might get to appreciate and associate with their traditions, religions, arts, etc. which in turn boosts your empathy factor and promotes acceptance towards individuals.

Studies state that children who can communicate bilingually carry a greater positive attitude towards different groups, cultures, and arts associated with the language. Not just that, today’s employers are looking out for people with high EQ rather than just IQ.

4. Opportunity to explore the world

If you are a traveller or someone who loves travelling, being a monolingual might not bring the best experiences which you could gain by being proficient in their local language. Also in many countries sign boards are only written in their local language which might be a difficult task for you if not hired a translator (which again brings a dent into your pocket).

Additionally knowing a second language also brings you some brownie points if you are planning abroad studies or work.

5. Hypes your confidence

The language barrier is the worst of the failures that you could face on your way to success. Being a businessman or a person willing to work in a foreign country your inability to familiarise yourself with their local language might create a sense of inflexibility, about you in the minds of your employer or investor irrespective of all your achievements.

Also, you might be doubtful about if your words are being conveyed right or not and this hampers your concentration and confidence to accomplish the task.

6. Beauty benefit to your brain cells

Learning a new language employs learning a totally new set of grammar and pronunciation which directly imposes positive effects on the development and cognition of the brain making them stronger and more flexible to be put to use with ease.

Just like beauty benefits to the skin, learning a new language adds a beauty benefit to your brain helping it to stave off mental aging and cognitive decline. In one of the studies by Jonathan W Pesner states that having bilingual proficiency offers the individual a psychological advantage who can become proficient in it.

7. Helps improve your first language

It’s a well-known fact that we learn our first language (mother tongue) without any formal education. Generally, it is witnessed that children or people start picking up their language influenced by the surrounding people speaking.

However, since you learn your second language with a totally different approach from the basics to proficiency this also brings in consciousness about knowing the facts of your first language knowledge which also develops your first language proficiency in the right manner.

8. Helps your multitasking ability

Being bilingual keeps your brain continually active switching from one language to another. This after a period of time becomes normal for the person and hence when they step into their workplace, switching between tasks is just simple since you have your brain trained to be active which strengthens your efficiency over your colleagues.

One of the studies conducted by the National Institute of Health states that bilinguals are more efficient compared to monolinguals when required to multitask.

9. Better decision-making ability

University of Chicago study states that multilingual people have better decision-making abilities compared to monolinguals. They also state that it might be a result of the summation of rules and vocabulary along with new analysis and regional expressions which the individual regularly self-judges for appropriateness and meaning.

The same is applied to decision-making with their practice trait of judging for appropriateness sharpening their ability to think and hence possess a more confident stance while making decisions.

10. Chance for higher pay

Bilingual employees demand higher salaries than their colleagues since there aren’t many people who can communicate in multiple languages. The addition of less commonly spoken languages to your resume considerably boosts your chances of not just being hired but being hired for higher pay.

One of the reports by the economist calculates that individuals who speak are proficient in more than one language have the benefit to earn an extra $67,000 throughout their lifetime (on a low end) and according to language expert and CEO Ryan McMoon learning a second language boosts your earnings 10-15%.

11. Being bilingual strengthens your life skills

It has been observed that individuals who can switch between languages have better mental flexibility and multitasking ability. Several studies have been conducted to understand this correlation between bilingual and increased brain functionality before arriving at the conclusion that bilinguals have better convergent thinking and they could provide you with multiple correct answers for which possibly a monolingual might give you one right one.

Boost your chances for a better life and opportunities by learning a second language!

After reading the block you might be considering brushing up your knowledge of a second language that you might have learned in your school or university planning to make a new home towards learning a foreign language hey perspective the fact is the best thing is we would like to congratulate you because you have taken the biggest step of success in your career.

The advantages of learning a new language are far beyond the ones we could ever list as it helps us develop in an out mentally and physically, strengthening us to be confident while communicating with individuals in society or the workplace.

We believe that this article has brought you the much-needed booster to take your step for a better future and career enhancement which could be attained by monetizing the value of your skills abroad. Considering emigrating abroad to gain the rightful value for your skills along with the addition of a new language, GetGIS could be your rightful assistant through your journey of visa application, job search, IELTS training, and a lot more.

You could book a free consultation with our immigration expert directly check your eligibility on our website.