top of page

The Benefits of Speaking Multiple Languages

By PETER MARDJONOVIC

Many people want to be able to understand foreign languages for reasons as simple as understanding someone in a nail salon or to understanding an international business call. However, people who speak one language usually wish to understand but never take the steps to learn.

​

Some people cannot see the importance in learning another language deeming that they simply “do not need to know” another language. In actuality though, knowing a foreign language helps the human brain in numerous ways. According to ITC Translations, a website that promotes multilingualism, “Being multilingual actually changes your brain structure, and this can help you in multiple ways. It improves your memory, helps you process information better, and helps with multitasking skills. But the biggest brain benefit is that speaking multiple languages can actually delay the effects of dementia by an average of 5 years," the article, “Three Benefits Of Being Multilingual," points out.

​

The benefits do not stop there, in today's ever growing world business world, knowing more than one language is more important than ever. According to Forbes, “At the pace with which businesses are expanding the world over, this is not the time for you to remain a monolinguist. With the evolving business landscape, and thinning borders. It would be a huge disadvantage for you as an individual or business-person to be limited to just one language. You’d be doing yourself a whole lot of disservice," according to Rashid.

​

However, this does not come easily to anyone considering that becoming bilingual or even trilingual involves a lot of work. Yet, in order to make this onerous task enjoyable, it is suggested that while studying, it should feel more like a hobby than an actual task. Personally, living with three languages proves to be a challenge every day. Some days I speak more languages than others, which could easily get confusing, I am sure to remember it is all about exposure to the language and practice.

​

Although after arriving back to America from two weeks away in Europe, I was struggling to speak English on the first day of school and I struggled with writing, I remembered that time away from one language is detrimental, so I need to continue to practice all three languages always. At the end of the day, being trilingual has more upsides than downs and I could never imagine living without these languages, so I recommend practice to anyone who sees the same benefits.  







Works Cited

 

Rashid, Brian. "3 Corporate Benefits Of Learning A Foreign Language And Why You

Should Care" Forbes, 12 June 2017, https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianrashid/2017/06/12/3-corporate-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language-and-why-you-should-care/#298af9741887. Accessed 6 June 2019.

 

“Three Benefits Of Being Multilingual.” ITC Translations Talent & Technology, 30 June

2017, www.itcglobaltranslations.com/multilingual-benefits/. Accessed 6 June 2019.  

bottom of page