The Benefits of Being Bilingual in Healthcare People from across the world come to the United States seeking a better life for themselves and their families. A parade of evidence continues to tout the health benefits of being bilingual, plus new applications like Duolingo make the process easier than ever. Because of that, we were able to build a good rapport.”. Once they arrive, they generally tend to congregate in similar areas and live amongst each other, which creates a feeling of community and connectedness in a place that isn’t their native land. There may be underlying brain advantages at work. There may be underlying brain advantages at work. Simply being in a multilingual environment is a step in the right direction. One of the best benefits of learning a new language as a senior is that it helps to keep your mind sharp. A study from a Los Angeles-based recruiter found that almost 9 out of 10 headhunters in Europe, Latin America, and Asia reported that bilingual skills is critical for success in today's business setting. Studies show that learning foreign languages helps support brain development. In general, this is due to the bilingual brain being more active since it processes two languages instead of just one. A 2014 study published in the Annals of Neurology found that learning a second language, no matter at what age, is shown to slow improve later-life cognition. Research from the University of Edinburgh suggests that specifically, bilingual people score better on tests of reading, verbal fluency and intelligence, all of which undoubtedly help bilinguals be better students.. Interestingly, this is regardless of what age the person learns the foreign language. Learning a language is a great way to keep your brain healthy and sharp. Many Canadians can attest that the bonuses of being bilingual are bountiful. 5 Brain Benefits Of Being Bilingual In our increasingly global society, having the ability to speak two or more languages is a skill that can open doors both professional and personal. If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn languages with real-world videos. Moreover, learning a foreign language is just fun! Read on for details on the advantages of bilingualism. FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language lessons. Managers know that multilingual consumers are a huge commercial force and represent a significant opportunity for future business. A recent report goes as far as saying that “marketers and advertisers who grasp and activate the multicultural edge will be poised to connect with rising super consumers.”. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe, Get regular language learning tips, resources and updates, starting with the "Complete Guide to Foreign Language Immersion" e-book, Sign up for our weekly blog newsletter for a chance to win a free FluentU Plus subscription (value $240). But beyond those benefits, being bilingual has other perks, particularly in the brain. If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated in French class, perhaps we can entice you with our discussion of nine concrete benefits of being fluent in another language. Foreign language skills can be particularly beneficial if you’re interested in changing careers to a new and growing field. The women also had different perceptions of the same advertisements when they saw them in English and in Spanish. Social benefits and skill development. As you build a vocabulary, try to decipher what a confusing passage might mean, or work around a language gap, you learn to think in creative ways that might be helpful elsewhere in life. Bilingual children can easily differentiate between the two languages. But beyond those benefits, being bilingual has other perks, particularly in the brain. So once you’ve got a second language under your belt, you might be fighting off job offers! The professor interviewed Parisian adults who were fluent in French and Portuguese and found that they acted differently when speaking one language or the other. 4 major benefits of being bilingual 1. Knowing a second language makes your resume stand out and can boost you to the top of the interview list with potential employers. If you dropped your college Spanish classes and gave up on the idea of learning a second language, you might want to reconsider. Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic: Here’s as strong a case as any to learn a second language. The Best Way to Learn a Language: Playing Games! Download: It requires you to activate parts of your brain that might otherwise be lying dormant. It Makes More facilities are taking more interest in applicants who are bilingual. … Being multilingual has numerous benefits, from long-term psychological health advantages to simply being more attractive on the job -- and dating -- market. Even if you don’t travel abroad, becoming bilingual can help you see the world in a different way and understand yourself better. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you If you want to work in a region, area, or specialty that needs your skills, you probably can. Another study found significant levels of “frame-shifting,” or changes in self perception, among bilingual participants. Being bilingual is very beneficial, both for you, the facility you work in, and your patients. 5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL. More than half of the world's population speaks more than one language. In fact, bilingual or multilingual professionals out-earn their monolingual counterparts by margins ranging from twice to three times as much in earnings. Look no further! According to a study An active and socially integrated lifestyle in late life might protect against dementia by Swedish researchers Fratiglioni L1, Paillard-Borg S and Winblad B, bilingualism provides health benefits suchh as delaying Dementia and Alzheimer diseases. October is Bilingual Child Month. This seems to help bilinguals do better at tasks that require multitasking and blocking out distractions. Originally published on VOXXI as Bilingual education: Why gutting it hurts us all. Besides the obvious social advantages, there are many other benefits of being bilingual. The kids in bilingual classes in Utah and elsewhere aren’t thinking much about the nature of their brains when they go to school each morning; they’re only aware of the rich and lyrical experience of living and learning bilingually. For instance, imagine all the countries you can visit in Latin America, the Caribbean and let’s not forget Spain, where you’ll be able to communicate with the locals. Increase brain power. Aside from improving your career prospects, speaking another language is just plain fun, and can add great value to your personal life. At BVIS, a bilingual education is an essential part of our curriculum, setting your child up for long term educational benefits and a lifetime of learning. Didn’t catch something? Studies have shown that bilingual people see the world differently. If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated in French class, perhaps we can entice you with our discussion of nine concrete benefits of being fluent in another language . More facilities are taking more interest in applicants who are bilingual. As a bilingual, you are constantly choosing in which language to say a word, and this gives you a lot of practice choosing important information and ignoring extraneous details. How Seniors Benefit from Being Bilingual. Besides the obvious social advantages, there are many other benefits of being bilingual. Research shows that bilingualism can improve cognition and delay dementia in older adults, particularly related to general intelligence and reading abilities. Read on for details on the advantages of bilingualism. Top 10 Health Benefits of Being Bilingual, Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Nutrition Investigator: The Ketogenic Diet, 10 Ways to Practice Self-Care During the Holidays, 10 Ways to Keep Children Happy and Healthy at Home during…, 6 Easy Tips To Maintain Your Workout Routine During Quarantine, Building a Full Workout Outfit with Lululemon Dupes from Amazon, 10 Amazon Items for your Healthy Holiday Gift Wish List, Top 10 Health Benefits of Cross-Country Skiing, 10 Healthy Festive Holiday Snacks That Your Kids Will Love, 10 Amazon Skin Care Products to Help With Dry Skin, University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Here are seven of the best benefits of being bilingual in the workplace. So join a study group or, better yet, travel to a different country! Lifetime benefits. According to a survey conducted by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, being bilingual […], HFR is an extremely motivated movement of people who want to create a healthier and fitter world www.healthfitnessrevolution.org. 10 Reasons to Drink 3 Liters of Water a Day (101... Top 10 Best Ab Exercises with No Equipment. The Benefits of Being Bilingual Jan 10, 2013 Viewed: 514 Some grow up speaking one language at home with their family and another at school and with their friends. Being multilingual has numerous benefits, from long-term psychological health advantages to simply being more attractive on the job -- and dating -- market. Becoming bilingual is a great way to boost brain … To truly reap the health benefits of a bilingual brain, you need to maintain fluency throughout your life, says cognitive neuroscientist Ellen Bialystok, who has spent her career pioneering research in this realm. Other fast-growing fields like travel and tourism, healthcare and national security need employees with bilingual language skills and the ability to work across cultures. Needless to say, learning two languages has a multitude of benefits that monolingual individuals might not develop until a later age, or not at all. One of the most terrifying prospects of a stroke is living with reduced mental capacity after recovery. Fields such as journalism, education and international development are always in search of bilingual employees. The benefits of being bilingual are lifelong, but they seem especially important in old age. Cognitive flexibility—the ability to adapt to unfamiliar or unexpected circumstances—tends to decline as we age, but speaking a second language can block that decline or at least significantly delay it. Some of the main benefits of receiving a bilingual education are: CNN's article on companies seeking bilingual and multilingual candidates is compelling. 1. Many people who speak more than one language also report feeling “like a different person” when they speak the other language. Research by a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has found that bilinguals emphasize different character traits depending on which language they are speaking. Instead, you can find your own way and experience the country the way a local would. You might enjoy cheaper access to museums because you don’t have to pay for a foreign-language guide, and you will certainly have more opportunities to meet people, engage in conversation and learn about the culture. It’s nice to have but you want the exhilarating thrill of using it! Today’s increasingly diverse society means those who speak multiple languages are a step ahead. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. One of the best reasons to become bilingual is the enormous health benefits it can have, particularly for the brain. Whether you visit Paris with your college French class or go down to Argentina to put your Spanish to good use, travel is a natural part of being bilingual. By being bilingual, you can travel to and foreign place and communicate better with the natives. So if you want to understand yourself better, learning another language might be the key! Language skills are a strong addition to any resume, especially in healthcare. B eing bilingual is not the only way to gain some of these benefits. 4. That means less time stressing about money and bills, a definite positive. The next time you want to make the most “rational” decision possible, consider thinking about it in a foreign language! 5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL Healthy Living . A language is the most expressive and intimate product of a culture. Pro: Enhanced Mental Skills . © 2020 Enux Education Limited. Bilingual Education Holds Cognitive, Social And Health Benefits (INFOGRAPHIC) ... enhanced by being bilingual from an early age, helps protect against memory losses caused by Alzheimer’s and dementia. This benefits communication in different ways, mainly due to the fact that your brain is better accustomed to filtering out unnecessary information. The scientists concluded that using a foreign language provided increased cognitive and emotional distance that allowed people to focus on the information rather than their own emotions. Expand your mind and your library when you’re bilingual. And it's not just useful to help get a taxi and order a cerveza when on vacation. October is Bilingual Child Month. Your brain also benefits from bilingualism. It gets you closer to what might be considered an insider view. Researchers interviewed Hispanic women who were fluent in Spanish and English and found that many classified themselves as more assertive when they spoke Spanish. Being bilingual will have a lasting impact throughout a person’s life. What is Subordinate Bilingual? 8 Ways to Get Daily Language Practice on Your Coffee Break, How to Learn a Language by Yourself: 5 Rockstar Tips for Success, Level Up Your Language Learning with Spaced Repetition (SRS), 37 Amazing Polyglots Who Are Happy to Show You How They Do It. Researchers find that the brain connection strengthens cognitive reserve, building a stronger interconnected brain. Being bilingual will make you a stronger candidate for nursing jobs and help you get better placement than you otherwise would. You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s “quiz mode.” Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning. The multitasking ability of your brain increases gradually and promotes other brain functions of the brain such as problem solving and being creative. Here are 10 benefits of being bilingual: 1. At retirement, the extra earnings could mean an additional $67,000 in your retirement account! A fun characteristic of a bilingual person is the ability to switch between two languages rather easily. Looking for some motivation to learn a new language? Learning more than one language facilitates social behavior. A 2003 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology found “positive effects of bilingualism were found on both episodic memory and semantic memory at all age levels.” In other words, bilingual people have better memory recall on verbal and subject tasks, whether both in free recall and cued recall. And while bilingualism cannot prevent Alzheimer’s disease, it can delay the onset of symptoms as much as five years. A recent study found that the brains of people who suffered from Alzheimer’s show the same physical deterioration whether they were monolingual or bilingual. While being a massive benefit in your personal life to improve friendships, relationships,traveling and holidays, one of the biggest advantages of learning another language is in your career. filtering a second language by filtering it to their first language 6. Some examples include an easier time multi-tasking and an increased attention span because of the ability to switch from one language to another. (Science Daily) 10. That will change the way you think about the world, giving you new perspective and appreciation for different values and traditions. Putting the languages you speak on to your resume is a plus! Slows Brain Aging So why not get started right away? Studies show that learning foreign languages helps support brain development. Yeah, we said it. Some of the seniors were bilingual … It was partially because of her knowledge of Turkish that Diaz-Rogers was offered an internship at the company! Research indicates that people who speak two or more languages significantly outperform monolinguals in … Jobs as translators and interpreters are in the top 15 fastest-growing occupations in the United States, with nearly 25,000 translation and interpretation jobs expected to become available by 2020. MIT economist Albert Saiz discovered that college graduates who speak two languages make an average of 2% more than those who do not. This can add up to a lot over time, as an article in The Economist points out. Check out these 15 statistics that prove being bilingual … Being bilingual is very beneficial, both for you, the facility you work in, and your patients. This document lists some reasons bilingualism is an asset to individuals, families, and our entire society. We can only process thoughts that we have words for. spanish at home 5. Speaking more than one language also provides better learning tools. There are numerous benefits to gain from speaking a second language, from professional and personal to health benefits. Numerous studies have found that bilingualism can improve brain functions like the ability to focus attention and perform mental tasks. It’s never too late to start learning a new language. Don’t believe us? Being bilingual means talking is twice as easy, right? Health benefits of being bilingual. Please check your email for further instructions.  How’s that for a new perspective? If we are to believe linguistic philosophers, language and vocabulary shape our understanding of the world. Some researchers believe being bilingual or multilingual helps develop your brain's cognitive reserve in the same way that engaging in other mentally and socially stimulating activities does. In fact, the Associated Press reports that up to 66% of the world’s children speak two languages these days. 1. Knowing more than one language can give you a big boost professionally, and in today’s economy, that’s something everyone can use. speaking another language can improve your life, the benefits of knowing a foreign language, the DLIFLC GLOSS to teach languages to recruits—which is surprisingly available to the public, better understand your favorite foreign music, general intelligence and reading abilities, FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks, 6 Language Immersion Software Programs That Deliver a Fully Immersive Experience, The Simple Secret to Foreign Language Fluency, 5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time, How to Learn a New Language Fast: 5 Tips That Actually Work. Find a class, grab a conversation partner or get started with a website like FluentU. Bilingual experience may contribute to this reserve by keeping the cognitive mechanisms sharp and helping to recruit alternate brain networks to compensate for those th… Seven amazing advantages of being bilingual, according to science. Bilingualism Can Help You See the World With Different Eyes. All Rights Reserved. The increase in healthy function allows the brain to then deal with dysfunction in other areas of ... It’s easier for people who have been bilingual throughout their lives or have learned enough to use the language on a regular basis to see tangible benefits from being bilingual than it is for an older adult just starting out. For example, speaking two languages enhances your cognitive skills, improves your mental health, and even boosts your salary. You won’t be limited to staying in expensive foreigner hotels, eating at restaurants where the staff speaks English or traveling with a tour group. She’ll also tell you—and this is the important part—it’s never too late to become bilingual. Let’s look at some of the benefits of being bilingual. But the people who speak two languages do not exhibit the typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s—such as memory loss, confusion and difficulties with problem-solving and planning—until much later than those who only speak one language. Enhances Communication Skills. Another fantastic benefit of being bilingual is that it improves your communication skills. This estimate does not even include jobs in the military, which actively recruits people with a variety of language skills. However, other studies have not found a clear connection between being bilingual and having a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. The new study discovered this bilingual benefit by analyzing the brain activity of adults between the ages of 60 and 68 while they carrying out a task designed to test cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. Once they arrive, they generally tend to congregate in similar areas and live amongst each other, which creates a feeling of community and connectedness in a place that isn’t their native land. Learning a new language and then staying at home is a bit like buying a fast car and leaving it in your garage. As you read poetry and talk to people you pick up new metaphors for explaining familiar phenomenon. In this increasingly global world, bilingualism carries many benefits. You know, that it’s useful to be able to ask where the bathroom is when you visit Beijing, or to be able to ask for directions when you get lost in Barcelona. Facilities want to expand their reach by hiring staff who can reach out and communicate with these patients. It makes traveling more fun. Originally published on VOXXI as Bilingual education: Why gutting it hurts us all. Most employers are willing to pay you a higher salary for being fluent in two or more languages, but this isn’t the only perk. When discussing the benefits of learning a foreign language, most people think of the straightforward perks right away. So, bilingualism gives a person an edge, in more ways than one. Besides being fun and intensely rewarding, travel has many health benefits, from making you more active to expanding your mind. Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.