Do you know what are the benefits of learning a second language?

Is being bilingual a skill, or are you born with that superpower?

Today, more than half of the population in the world is bilingual.

Being bilingual means a better personal life, more job opportunities, and even better health.

But do you know what the bilingual term means and what are the benefits it can bring you?

Most of you now probably think it’s the possibility to ask for directions in the streets of Paris or Madrid. 

The benefits of being bilingual go beyond that.

That is why in this post, we are going to show you 10 awesome benefits of being bilingual that can change your life. Let’s dive in.

What Is Bilingualism?

In order to review the benefits of being bilingual, it is vital to explain what bilingualism is.

Bilingualism or being bilingual is the use of more than one language by an individual speaker or group of speakers.

A person usually becomes bilingual when they learn two languages in their environment at the same time, and they acquire two languages the same way.

Now, when you know what being bilingual means, let’s see some awesome benefits of being bilingual.

Benefits of Bilingualism in Personal Life

Calm and entertaining personal life is something everyone wants to achieve.

Bilinguals have that benefit that gives great value in their lives.

Here are some of the bilingualism advantages for personal life:

Bilingualism Can Help You See the World With Different Eyes

In some cases, you don’t have to travel to see something differently.

Studies have shown that bilingual people see the world differently. Many of them said that they feel like a different person.

Speaking two languages on the same level not only can help you see everything with different eyes but also acts differently.

According to the study from the University of Chicago, among bilingual participants, it is shown that, for example, a woman, fluent in both English and Spanish, was more assertive when speaking in Spanish than in English.

Bilinguals Have More Friends

Speaking one more language gives you many social opportunities.

You can meet more people from different cultures, interact with different people, and learn body language from different cultures.

This way, you can meet more people, make friends, or find out more things that might interest you.

It can lead to further benefits, such as better understanding for movies, songs,or books, since you're fluent in that language.

Being Bilingual Helps You Travel Cheaper

People who speak two or more languages fluently, don’t have to spend too much money on traveling, tourist guides, or staying in bad and too expensive hotels because they only speak English.

They can find their own path and organize themselves where to travel, which exciting, non-tourist places to visit, and hotels to stay far away from typical tourists.

They can meet some entertaining people with amusing stories and recommendations on what to visit and where to go.

Advantages of Being Bilingual In the Business World

The cognitive benefits of being bilingual can give you many new career opportunities.

New Career Opportunities

Knowing foreign languages opens the door to more job opportunities.

No matter if you want to change your career or perhaps try to get a promotion. 

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Bilinguals are always wanted in tourism, military, healthcare, etc.

Jobs for interpreters and translators are always active. Every year the need for these experts keeps growing.

So, if you are asking yourself how to become an interpreter and if that job pays off, if you are fluent in two or more languages, you can go in that direction.

Bilinguals Make More Money

According to researchers, bilinguals with college make around 2% more than those who speak only one language.

The amount of money they can earn depends on the languages they speak, of course, but many employers pay their bilingual employees about 5%  to 20% more per hour than monolinguals.

Improving Your Competitiveness

In today’s world, most of the companies work in many different countries, continents, which means working with many different people, and, therefore, different languages.

Bilinguals are something like shining stars.

Speaking two or more foreign languages is the benefit managers can recognize and know how to use it for both sides.

People who speak more languages always stand out from the crowd because of that possibility to make the company even more international and sell more products.

Health Benefits

It is well-known that learning and speaking more than one language brings many health advantages, such as improving brain memory, slow aging, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and many more.

Besides these, there are some of the health benefits not many people know. 

But you can read them in the following lines.

Multitasking And Decision-Making Is Easier

Many studies have shown that bilingualism helps your brain work faster and more efficiently in two different languages. It results in successful multitasking.

Bilinguals also think in two languages all the time. For example, when they are thinking about one word, they are doing those two languages, so they always have to choose which one to use.

It makes you practice all the time, even at an unconscious level, so you are competent for decision-making, along with multitasking.

Bilinguals Are More Rational

According to the study from the University of Chicago, when people use more than one language regularly, it makes them emotionally and mentally distant.

That distance gives them the possibility to see things clearly and rationally, so they don’t think with their hearts but with their heads.

Why don’t you give it a try? When you have to make a decision, try thinking about it in another language, too.

Bilingualism Slows Aging

Bilinguals often know how to solve problems fast or get out of some unexpected circumstances. 

Although it can be exhausting, it is, however, fresh for their brains.

These situations make the brain ‘exercise’ all the time, so it can slow aging, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Think about it this way: when you exercise, go to the gym, or jog at the park, you keep your body active and healthy.

The same is with your brain. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, speaking more than one language brings you nothing but benefits.

Besides, learning a new language is always fun.

The more often you use your target language, the more benefits it can bring you.

b? Here become bilingual? Here are some excellent options for online education: Start with Babbel for engaging, well-structured lessons that are designed to be both enjoyable and easy to incorporate into your everyday life, helping you progress quickly in language acquisition. If you're seeking comprehensive language training, Udemy’s extensive courses range from fundamental to advanced topics. For those who prefer a tailored approach, Preply offers the chance to interact with native speakers, greatly improving your speaking skills. Enjoy a 50% discount on your first Preply session by using this link.

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What Is Bilingualism?

Bilingualism or being bilingual is the use of more than one language by an individual speaker or group of speakers. A person usually becomes bilingual when they learn two languages in their environment at the same time, and they acquire two languages the same way.

What are the biggest benefits of being bilingual?

Bilingualism Can Help You See the World With Different Eyes, Bilinguals Have More Friends, Being Bilingual Helps You Travel Cheaper

What are Advantages of Being Bilingual In the Business World?

New Career Opportunities, Bilinguals Make More Money, Improving Your Competitiveness

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