What science says about benefits to the mind when learning a new language

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Learning a new language helps to open several doors in professional life. In addition to increasing the curriculum, people who speak at least two languages ​​tend to have a higher than average salary and are consequently more highly rated in the job market.

The professional aspect is not the only advantage for learning a new language. Science has proven with several studies that the process of learning a foreign language is very beneficial for the mind and can even increase the life of the brain.

O que a ciência diz sobre benefícios para a mente ao aprender um novo idioma

It's great for mental health

Several studies have come to the conclusion that bilingual people tend to have sharper mental health. The Galileo Magazine released a study which says that adults who speak only one language begin to show the first signs of dementia at the age of 71 (average).

For people who speak two or more languages, symptoms do not begin to appear until the age of 75. In this case, the research also took into account several factors, such as income level, physical health and everything else - however, nothing changed the result.

It is also worth mentioning that in 2011 the American Academy of Neurology released a study concluding that people who learn new languages ​​suffer from less memory loss as they get older. People who speak at least four languages ​​tend to be five times less likely to develop cognitive problems compared to those who speak up to two languages.

In addition, learning a new language activates an area of ​​the brain that is sharpened in pleasurable activities - the ventral striatum. The same happens when a person eats chocolate, for example, or performs other actions that generate pleasure.

O que a ciência diz sobre benefícios para a mente ao aprender um novo idioma

Increases awareness

A survey carried out in Spain, by the University of Pompeu Fabra, informs that those who are fluent in more than one language have a greater capacity to maintain focus and store more relevant information than monolinguals.

This is intrinsically related to the fact that the brain becomes sharper when the person has mastered at least two languages ​​and the mind is strengthened when the citizen increases his perception of several languages.

Contributes to the growth of brain capacity

Recently, the magazine Annals of Neurology completed an intelligence test with a group of native English speakers and repeated the same test when these people reached 70 years of age. As expected, the group that had mastery of two or more languages ​​performed better on cognitive skills than the monolingual group.

Among the biggest differences in cognitive abilities are perception, memory and reasoning. All this means that, once a person learns a foreign language, the process of mastering another becomes easier and it happens successively.

Improves the brain's ability to perform multitasking activities

Perform multitasking activities it can be very stressful for those who are not used to this pace of work and one way to help overcome this challenge is to master at least two languages.

According to a study by Pennsylvania State University, people who are multilingual and are in frequent contact with at least two languages ​​work hard on the area of ​​the brain that enables multitasking activities. Therefore, people who have developed an ability to think and develop phrases in more than one language tend to perform several exercises simultaneously and at a lower level of stress.

It also helps when making decisions

The University of Chicago concluded that those who are at least bilingual have a greater capacity to make correct decisions, because when using a language other than native, people tend to make more systematic decisions and less based on negative factors.

When we reason in our native language, decisions are more likely to be based on negative factors, which interferes with decision making. In this way, multilingual people are more confident in their decisions.

O que a ciência diz sobre benefícios para a mente ao aprender um novo idioma

Ready to learn? Respect learning time and don't try to master everything suddenly

The benefits of learning a new language are tempting and it is impossible to cite them all in one article - with more in-depth research on the internet it is possible to find other advantages for the mind, especially in articles in Portuguese and English. However, it is worth noting that acquiring a command of a new language requires time and dedication.

Há muitas pessoas que conseguem aprender um novo idioma do zero e sem ajuda de nenhum profissional, porém, o mais recomendado é entrar em contato direto com uma nova língua através de pessoas especializadas em passar o conteúdo da melhor maneira possível. No English Live, há diversas diretrizes nos cursos que se adequam exatamente ao propósito da pessoa na hora de learn a foreign language.

With so many reasons to learn English and other languages ​​and with everything at your fingertips through the various online options, mastering at least one foreign language is a great addition to anyone's professional and personal life.