Why it is important to learn a second language.

We live in a multilingual world, where connections are now more important than ever. The world is becoming increasingly globalized and this will directly influence our relationship with the people living in other parts of the world. Language learning opens up the world through a greater understanding of other cultures. In the short term, it teaches you about cultural diversity, which encourages understanding and appreciating the difference in other culture. In the long term, it will enable you to interact with a wider range of people and texts, and open more doors.
So, learning a second language can always give you an lots of advantage.

There are tangible benefits of learning second language:

It can help you in your career
Being fluent in two or more languages opens up the door to a variety of job opportunities not available to monolingual job candidates. These opportunities exist in marketing, transportation, administration, sales, retail, banking, education, law, communication, public relations, tourism and government – to name just a few. Not surprisingly, most corporations need employees who are bilingual or multilingual.

As the world becomes more global the demand for professionals who can communicate in multiple languages is growing. According to a U.S. Department of Labor estimate, over the next decade there will be a 42% increase in demand for translators and interpreters. Even if you don’t want to become a full-time interpreter, just being able to communicate proficiently in another language is a huge asset.

It can improve your memory and brain functions;
Dan Roitman of Pimsleur writes on one of his post that “As a language learner, you’ll not only become a more conscious thinker and listener who can communicate clearly and think creatively, but you’ll also gain the most significant benefit of multilingualism: a broader, more global perspective,”
The studies suggest the bilingualism improves the brain’s executive function. It helps with ignoring distractions to stay focused, switching attention willfully from one thing to another and holding information in mind. Learning another language is one of the most effective and practical ways to increase intelligence, keep your mind sharp, and buffer your brain against aging.

Language learning helps improve people’s thinking skills and memory abilities. Bilingual students concentrate better, ignoring distractions more effectively than those who only speak one language. “Because the language centers in the brain are so flexible, learning a second language can develop new areas of your mind and strengthen your brain’s natural ability to focus.”

It can help increase your understanding of the languages you already speak.
One learns the mother tongue intuitively and without any formal education. Being raised in a society where a particular language is spoken, children start to pick up the language they hear.
However, learning another language is a whole different deal. From the beginning, you’ll get introduced to grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and sentence structure. As you learn more about the second language, you become more conscious of what you know in the first language. While before you couldn’t quite explain the abstract rules and language structure , learning a new language helps you put in what you have learned in the first one.
Furthermore, you become aware of the differences in structure, grammar, vocabulary, idioms and sentences between the two languages. All these factors helps in improving comprehension and conversation and will make you understand your first language better.

Helps in the development and growth of children

For children, language study is good for their mind and academic performance. According to a research “cognitive advantages follow from being bilingual“, such as the ability to overcome distraction in order to achieve tasks. Such advantages can contribute to a child’s future academic success.
Learning a second language also enables greater understanding of our own language.
So it’s important to encourage your child’s interest in learning other languages. Even by showing interest in other cultures and through visiting cultural events and celebrations, you are teaching your child the importance of cultural diversity.

We can conclude here by saying that, learning a second language can benefit you both personally and professionally and bring you several advantages, some of which we have discussed here at Hindustani Tongue