Top 6 Reasons To Learn a 2nd Language

While language learning involves dedication and commitment, it also delivers many tangible and intangible benefits, not the least of which is the fact that it’s fun! A new language: the gift that keeps on giving.

1. Expand Your World

Take the plunge, branch out, diversify! We see all different types who want to learn languages: young professionals from different industries, world-travelers, food-lovers, movie-goers, academics, politicians, retirees, college kids… broadening your horizon means meeting new people AND new mindsets. c’est magnifique!

2. Connect

Language is 100% about connecting people. Experience life more richly, connect more deeply. Learning a language allows us to better understand how other people think, even highlighting how an entire culture functions. Think Nelson Mandela who learned Afrikaans while imprisoned to successfully negotiate w/ "enemy". Language & culture, compassion & understanding, intimately connected.

3. Ignite Your Career

Did you know? On average, bilinguals earn between 5 and 20% more than monolinguals? Plus! roughly 30% of companies said that if they had to decide between two equally qualified candidates, they would choose the bilingual candidate. As businesses expand globally, having multilingual workers on staff is becoming more important.

4. Workout Your Brain

Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. Studies on the cognitive effects of bilingualism keep multiplying; they show improved verbal and spatial abilities as well as memory and multitasking capabilities, while also possibly protecting against Alzheimer’s. Quelles bonnes nouvelles!

5. Be a polyglot!

Polyglots have one thing in common: they know what it takes to learn a language. You essentially get the 3rd ( 4th, 5th…) language at “50% off mental effort”. Your brain is already wired for it; you know the patterns, the work required and the fantastic payoff. It gets easier as you add languages. Why delay? Allez!

6. Have FUN!

You’ve tried learning a language in front of a computer by yourself, repeating phrases out of context for hours, or you’ve had it with taking tough language exams in college. Time for a fun yet effective approach: social events using the language in relevant context, such as learning to talk about art in a museum, cinema after a foreign film, wine during a wine tasting…now you’re speaking our language!