8 reasons why you must speak multiple languages.

Learning a new language is very hard. It takes a long time, dedication and really never stops. So why should you even bother to learn a new language? Well there are several reasons why you should learn a new language.

First, learning a new language is a great exercise for your brain. It requires you to constantly learn new things and apply your new knowledge. Spending 5–10 a day learning about a language is like doing Sudoku, only that you can actually imply what you have learned in real life.

Second, it helps you to see the world through a different lense. Change will start in the way you express yourself. You will learn new sayings, new expressions and see how people express their idea differently in a foreign language. Therefore you will gradually develop a sense on how people think differently in the language you are learning.

Third, you are more likely to earn more money. Studies have shown that people who speak multiple languages earn more money, compared to their colleges. The ability to communicate with colleges and customers in multiple languages on a continuously globalized world, gets more and more valuable. Furthermore, speaking more languages will give you the opportunity to work in an exclusive industry, entirely based on language (translator, diplomacy etc.)

Fourth, learning a new language increases your cognitive abilities. Scientific studies have shown that languages actually make you smarter. It will increase the speed of the brain, in which it then can process more complex information faster. This doesn’t only benefit the people who are bilingual or multilingual. It is available to each and everyone who is learning a new language.

Fifth, it delays Alzheimer by 4.5 years. Besides the great gym for your brain, it has also been proven that people who are able to speak multiple languages delay Alzheimer by an average of 4.5 years.

Sixth, learning a new language brings you into contact with a new people and therefore with new cultures. Being able to speak the local language while traveling enables you to interact with the local people. Thus you get a better understand / feeling on how they life and what their culture really is like.

Seventh, learning a new language also increases the understanding of your own language. Chances are that you haven’t spent any time thinking about grammar, where words come from, expressions and how to write effectively, in your native language. By learning a new language you bring much more awareness into your native language. You are then able to use your native language more precisely and accurately.

Lastly, learning a new language will help you to build better relationships. Generally everyone feels more comfortable speaking in their own language. As you are able to speak their native language they are much more open to speak to you and getting to know you, than you are both restricted foreign language.