Benefits of learning foreign languages

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Offline Binoy

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Benefits of learning foreign languages
« on: June 11, 2014, 10:26:46 AM »
One may get the following benefits from learning foreign languages:

1. Brain growth: Language centers in the brain actually grow as a result of successful language learning. The better you learn, the more those vital areas of the brain grow.

2. Stave off dementia: Bilingualism delays Alzheimer’s disease in susceptible people by as much as five years. Seems incredible, but the studies are continuing to support this result. To put this in context: the effect on dementia of learning another language is much greater than anything achievable with the latest drugs.

3. Hear language better: Being bilingual can lead to improved listening skills, since the brain has to work harder to distinguish different types of sounds in two or more languages.

4. Become more language sensitive: Infants in bilingual households can distinguish languages they’ve never even heard before. Just being exposed to the different sounds in, for example, Spanish and Catalan, helps them tell the difference between English and French.

5. Boost your memory: Babies brought up in a bilingual environment have stronger working memories than those brought up with only one language. This means they are better at mental calculation, reading and many other vital skills.

6. Better multi-tasking: Bilingual people can switch from one task to another more quickly. They show more cognitive flexibility and find it easier to adapt to unexpected circumstances.

7. Increased attention: Bilinguals have stronger control over their attention and are better able to limit distractions.

8. Double the activation: Cognitive boosts, like improved attention and better multi-tasking, may come because bilingual people have both languages activated at the same time, and must continually monitor which one is appropriate. All that switching back and forth confers the mental benefits.

9. New ways of seeing: Learning a new language can literally change the way you see the world. Learning Japanese, for example, which has basic terms for light and dark blue, may help you perceive the color in different ways.

10. Improve your first language: Since learning a second language draws your attention to the abstract rules and structure of language, it can make you better at your first language.

11. Exploring other cultures: You may explore other cultures through learning foreign languages. This will enable you to see your own culture from the perspective of another.

“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” – Charlemagne

“You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.” – Geoffrey Willans



Offline Shampa Iftakhar

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2014, 02:48:10 PM »
Thank you sir for sharing.

Offline mominur

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2014, 04:29:06 PM »
Thanks Sir for sharing......
Md. Mominur Rahman

Assistant Professor
Department of Textile Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Daffodil International University

Offline R B Habib

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2014, 03:01:06 PM »
Even learning a second language helps defy brain aging Sir.


Rabeya Binte Habib
Senior Lecturer,
Department of English
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Daffodil Int. University

Offline drkamruzzaman

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2014, 05:10:26 PM »
Thanks Sir for sharing..
Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman
Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Sciences
Faculty of Science & Information Technology
Daffodil International University

Offline Tahsina

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2014, 06:20:50 PM »
I've noticed that people who have strong basics of mother language can learn second language better.
Tahsina Yasmin
Associate Professor
Department of English, DIU

Offline ayasha.hamid12

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2014, 04:17:00 PM »
Dear Sir,

I've learned a lot from your writing. Hope I'll try to apply these ideas while I will teach my students.

Hope to get a lot more new topics from you in future

Ayasha Hamid.
Lecturer
Department of English

Offline hassan

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2014, 10:47:26 AM »
thanks for your informative post.
Md. Arif Hassan
Assistant Professor
Department of Business Administration
Faculty of Business and Economics
Daffodil International University

Offline Mir Sadia Siddequa

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2015, 10:15:05 AM »
To have another language is to possess a second soul......


Thank You Sir for sharing it
Mir Sadia Siddequa Sifat
Research Associate
Department of English

Offline Afroza Akhter Tina

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2015, 12:25:49 PM »
Very interesting to know all these points sir...I am inspired to learn Spanish and would get enrollment soon  :)

Offline ummekulsum

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2015, 05:42:57 PM »
Really a helpful one...

Offline Reza S. H.

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2015, 02:25:31 PM »
One of my friends knows 14 languages and he does not need any tourist guide while roaming around the world. He is working for UN and earning huge amount of money. So, learning foreign language has superb monetary benefit I must say.

Offline nujhat.eng

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Re: Benefits of learning foreign languages
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2015, 09:07:25 AM »
thanks sir, its great to know
Nujhat Afrin
Senior Lecturer
Department of English