What is Really Going On?
All the data collected during this research was of great help to understand the benefits of learning a second language. The interviews of people who speak more than one language provided me with insight and information that I couldn’t obtain another way. It was really good to see that all my resources agreed that there are no disadvantages to learning a second language; rather all of these professionals in the area recommend that we learn a new language as early as possible. Many of these resources and studies focus on children, due to their ability to learn a new language fast and for the benefits it will bring to them in the future. Some parents may think that teaching their kids more than one language could “confuse them”, but “rather than promoting linguistic confusion, bilingualism promotes improved ‘inhibitory control’, or the ability to pick out relevant speech sounds and ignore others” (Leopold, W. 2012). In more than one of these articles, I found reference to the bilingual Utah program where thousands of children are learning a new language since an early age.
Bilingualism also brings health benefits. Jeffrey Kluger explains that “bilinguals get an extra 4.1 years of clarity before symptoms of any form of dementia see in; those who develop Alzheimer’s specifically get an extra 5.1 years.” Professor Ingrid Piller agreed with this in the video The Bountiful Benefits of Being Bilingual and explains that bilinguals are less liking of develop Alzheimer diseases or other kind of mental health problems (Piller, I. 2012). All of my sources identify career advantages, brain health, education bonus, and social life incentives as some of the major benefits of learning a new language.
My interviews really provided me with a lot of information regarding the subject. All of my four interviewees agreed that there are many benefits of learning a new language. Interviewee #1 explained that being bilingual has given her “more opportunities” and she has avoided barriers in the career area. One interesting point from Interviewee #1 is the sociocultural effect of speaking a new language. She explains that when you speak a second language, it makes you have an “open mind.” Interviewee #3 explains that multilingualism “helps stop stereotypes about other countries which believe Americans are too proud or too ignorant to recognize another language exists other than English.” It is great to believe that learning a new language can change misconceptions and stereotypes and help to accept others for what they really are. For centuries, territories have been divided into countries because of the population's language. Their languages unify them.
I was really surprised that when asked about benefits in education, my interviewees didn’t address any specific benefit, even though they all agree that it is important. When asked about benefits in their career, some of them expressed the benefits when traveling and the business interactions. None of them expressed having an advantage over their monolingual coworkers. Three out of four agreed that education in the United States should become bilingual and starts at a really early age.
These findings present the clear benefits of learning a second language. Not matter what age we start to learn a new language, the benefits will be evident.
Credits:
Image 1: Banner http://vimeo.com/43255088
Image 2: http://www.chalksy.com/blog/2013/08/06/learn-a-new-language-online-this-summer/
Image 3: https://plus.google.com/109366378731416617801/videos
Image 4: http://www.reversemortgageinfo.com/healthy-brain-healthy-aging/
Image 5: http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
Image 6:
Image 1: Banner http://vimeo.com/43255088
Image 2: http://www.chalksy.com/blog/2013/08/06/learn-a-new-language-online-this-summer/
Image 3: https://plus.google.com/109366378731416617801/videos
Image 4: http://www.reversemortgageinfo.com/healthy-brain-healthy-aging/
Image 5: http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
Image 6: