The Benefits of Being Bilingual: More Than Just Speaking Another Language

Learning a new language is a significant endeavor that requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and money. Many people are understandably concerned about whether the investment will ultimately pay off. Fortunately, research shows that bilingualism offers numerous benefits—both cognitive and socio-cultural—that make it a valuable pursuit.

Bilingualism and Cognitive Benefits

The most immediate benefit of knowing two languages is the ability to communicate with a larger group of people. But beyond this, bilingualism has been shown to have positive effects on the brain. In particular, it can improve spatial abilities, memory skills, and multitasking abilities.

Spatial Abilities: Spatial abilities refer to the capacity to visualize and manipulate objects in three dimensions. Bilinguals have a higher level of spatial ability than monolinguals because they have more experience with different linguistic and visual-spatial systems. As a result, bilinguals may be better at tasks such as mental rotation (i.e., mentally rotating an object in space), which is crucial for several fields, including engineering, mathematics, and chemistry.

Memory Skills: Research shows that bilinguals have enhanced memory, particularly for the tests that require executive control or high levels of mental processing. Executive control involves the ability to regulate attention or focus, which can be extended to other domains such as organizing, planning, and problem-solving. Bilinguals also appear to have an advantage in recalling words, pictures, names, and other types of information.

Multitasking: Bilingual people may also have better multitasking skills than monolinguals because they are accustomed to switching between two or more languages, each with its own set of rules and vocabulary. This skill can be useful in today’s fast-paced, multilingual world.

Bilingualism and Socio-Cultural Benefits

Bilingualism also has socio-cultural benefits, which emerge once you engage with a new culture.

Feeling Connected: Bilinguals may experience a sense of connectedness to other cultures. This is because learning a language often involves learning about different cultures and histories, which can foster cross-cultural understanding and empathy. As a result, bilinguals may be more open-minded and curious about diverse people and groups.

Increased Job Opportunities: In today’s globalized world, knowing another language can be a significant asset that sets you apart from other job candidates. Being bilingual is a valuable skill in fields such as journalism, translation, international business, education, and many others. Bilingual employees may also be in higher demand in countries that use two or more languages, such as Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, and many other countries.

Increased Self-Esteem and Likelihood of Success in Education: Children who come from two separate cultures and learn two languages early in life may experience increased self-esteem and a better likelihood of success in areas of education. Research indicates that bilingual students are better able to develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving skills. They may also perform better on standardized tests and have a greater understanding of different cultural perspectives. As a result, bilinguals may be more likely to have a successful academic career.

The Takeaway

The benefits of bilingualism extend beyond the ability to communicate with a larger group of people. Bilinguals have been shown to have enhanced cognitive skills in areas such as spatial abilities, memory, and multitasking. They also experience socio-cultural benefits such as increased connectedness to other cultures and increased job opportunities. For children who grow up speaking two languages, there is an additional benefit of increased self-esteem and likelihood of success in areas of education. Now that you know the benefits of being bilingual, you can decide if pursuing a second language is right for you.