In order for this not to happen children need to learn a second language. Learning a second language allows children to have many advantages like higher test scores. Studies show that teenagers that learn a second language excel in core subjects and tests. Learning a language involves a variety of learning skills. Studying a foreign language can enhance one’s ability to learn and function. In addition to educational benefits, learning a foreign language leads to important life skills. Mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order thinking skills, problem solving and more can be greatly exercised by learning another language.
Teenagers’ knowledge of other languages boosts students understanding of languages in general and enables students to use their native language more effectively. As a person who speaks one language you have no basis for comparison. It will help you understand tenses, prepositions, and all the other parts of speech. You will find yourself speaking and writing more precise creative sentences. Most great writers and poets are students of many languages.
Teenager’s knowledge and experience can also build confidence. People like people with knowledge whom they can learn from, as long as you’re not a show off. People like hearing stories from other countries and from others, so by telling them about your traveling and adventures with your new language you may easily develop new friendships. Not only more open to a whole new culture, you’ll be able to meet thousands of other people thanks to your extra language. No one knows where life will take us, and knowing this extra language might just make a drastic change in your life. On the way this new language can make you less judgmental and more accepting of languages that might seem to sound funny to you.
Applying to Colleges and Career choices – Being bilingual can put you in the running for acceptance to schools and better schools. Colleges view the knowledge of different languages to be extremely functional and value those who took the time and patience to learn them. Whatever your career goals are, knowing a language certainly won’t hurt your employability. Chances are the knowing languages will open up employment opportunities that you would not have otherwise. Knowing languages can give you an edge over monolingual applicants competing for the same job. Employees who speak one language can only communicate with people who speak the same language. Not to mention the world is daily becoming smaller and more competitive. With so many people of similar qualifications, it can be a huge boost to have foreign language knowledge on your resume. Also, you will be able to land those fun, temporary, all expenses paid assignments in foreign countries just because you know the language.
Language is what makes us human. It’s the medium we use to share our thoughts with the world. Could you imagine life without language? Learning a new language is like learning a new way to think or a new way to sing. Don’t sell yourself short by stubbornly ignoring every language but one. Next time when you’re on vacation in Mexico and a teenager comes up to you jabbering away in Spanish you won’t be confused.
