When learning a new skill, it is extremely important to motivate yourself additionally. It gives meaning to the learning, it allows you to keep in mind a list of benefits that will become reality after learning the skill. Sometimes, it takes a long time to learn a skill, because a person needs to overcome the moments of apathy. There are advantages in learning a foreign language in addition to your own knowledge of the language itself. Here, we recommend you 10 benefits of learning a new language.
Makes you a better listener
This is a great skill that we need anytime and anywhere. If you deeply think about it, you can see the advantage of listening to the person without interruption in any situation. Carnegie devoted an entire chapter to this issue in his book. When learning a new language, you essentially have no choice but to listen carefully to the person, so you should try to grasp his accent and the meaning of what was said. In addition, you simply cannot interrupt the person, because you do not really understand the new language for you. It also allows you to develop an empathy.
Increases your focus
It is almost impossible to learn a new language and be constantly distracted. In order to not only learn, but also to grasp the new rule, to understand the sentence, you need to stay focused (as with any new skill). You will understand that the slightest distraction can ruin the progress you have made in the last minutes. That will automatically show you the harm of a switched on mobile phone and other irritants.
Helps you to gain confidence
When we set any goal and achieve it, it inevitably leads to an increase in self-confidence. This is how a person is made. You have probably read the advice of some productive and successful people who wrote that if something doesn't work out for you, do what you get – tidy up the table, wash the dishes, throw out the trash. The small successes like these instantly kick-start a chain of successes in your head and build confidence. When we manage to conduct a dialogue for 30 seconds in an unfamiliar language, it gives tremendous energy and our perception increases significantly. It is important that you celebrate your little successes for yourself. If you can't rejoice in small victories, the brain will be discouraged and tire quickly.
Prevents potential brain diseases
We used to think that preventing a lot of physical problems is connected only with sports. Learning a new language can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 4.5 years, that is significantly more than modern medicaments are capable of. The bottom line is that multilingual people create more neural pathways in the brain, that allows the brain not to scroll the same thoughts and patterns in turn, which is often the cause of schizophrenia.
Improves your native language
Needless to say, that learning a foreign language allows you to look at your native language and begin to notice in it those things that you never thought about before? An intuitive understanding of language is great, but it is not a way up. Any linguist or writer will tell you that there are different levels of understanding in your native language and that the same fictional text is perceived differently based on your level.
Increases your creativity
Learning a language is like putting together all the pieces of one puzzle. In one sentence, you can know half of the words, and guess the other half from the context. In addition, when you talk to a native speaker of the language you are learning, your brain begins to frantically get out of the awkward situation, change the construction to another, look for synonyms of the word that you have forgotten. All of this helps you to become creative. When each of us is backed against the wall, amazing things begin to happen.
Improves cultural awareness
The bottom line is that the speaker of a new language for you is a direct embodiment of the culture of his country. Watching a movie with lots of dialogue will tell you less about the culture of this country than the usual dialogue with its inhabitant. This makes you more diverse as a person and allows you to avoid many conflicts, because you begin to study a different culture, psychology and take all the necessary steps.
Opens new career opportunities
We came to the globalization, and then the Internet also appeared. According to various statistics, the knowledge of two languages adds to you from 10 to 15% of your salary. And when used correctly, it can turn your life around. If you want to do business, it is imperative not to close any doors for yourself, because any of them can be a huge opportunity. There is nothing worse than an offer of a new job with a salary increase several times, upon condition of knowing a foreign language.
Allows you to discover new facets in travelling
This is no longer an easy journey for you, this is a journey to a country whose language you know. It is a wonderful feeling, when the awkwardness of being in a foreign country that you have not felt before is erased. Even though you do not look like a native speaker in this country, but people will also be happy to do business with you when they realize that you have visited this state for the first time and you have the right accent. But if the people with a funny accent cannot be perceived adequately by people, there is nothing you can do about it.
Will deepen your relationship with people
If you are lucky (although someone is looking for something) to find a second half in the country whose language you are studying, it is extremely important to please your parents. Parents always appreciate the correct accent and competent speech of the second half of their child, especially at the first meeting, when the official part is very important.
The next time when you have thoughts about the futility of further language learning, you can remember these benefits. For motivation, it is always important to repeat to yourself why you are doing what you are doing, and not be limited to one phrase. While you are learning a new language and at the same time you understand that it develops memory and makes you more creative, you kill three birds with one stone and it makes your soul warmer and strength comes from somewhere.