Whether you’re a beginner or an expert looking to brush up on old skills, we have five reasons we think learning a new language could be the perfect way to spend your days in isolation.
Studies from Absolute Translations showed that learning a new language encourages your brain to develop new neural pathways that strengthen retention and enhance problem solving.
Reducing likelihood of dementia
A study by scientists at York University of Toronto found that vocal learning exercises the brain in a way that could delay dementia. They said that those who took the time to learn a new language developed dementia five years after those who only spoke their mother tongue.
Not a tourist, but a visitor
You don’t have to be fluent, but knowing the basic vocabulary lets you interact with local people on holiday — those who can tell you which boulangerie sells the flakiest croissants, or who might direct you to the finest family-owned pizzeria in town and show you the best spot on the island for watching the sun set.
Navigating yourself on public transport, ordering in restaurants and avoiding tourist scams becomes simple. You’re likely to experience a new opportunity to make friends, too.
Boost your memory and attention span
Multilingual people can switch between various systems of speech, making it easier to see writing and structure in other languages. Moving between each of these systems exercises your brain like a muscle — the more you do it, the more you’ll be able to juggle multiple tasks at once and remember every point on your To Do list.
Avoiding strokes
Experts at the University of Edinburgh found that people who can speak more than one language are likely to recover from a stroke quicker than those who speak only one, due the elasticity of their cognitive functions. Lead researcher said, “The mental challenge of speaking multiple languages provides a kind of cognitive reserve — a protective barrier — that helps the brain cope with damaging influences such as stroke or dementia.”
Be more present
Millions of people engage in brain training to stay sharp, but learning a second language is far more beneficial long-term. Making friends in different tongues can open up doors to learn about things you’re not exposed to at home. Compared to people that only speak one language, multilingual speakers have a higher general intelligence and are more perceptive of their surroundings.
If you fancy signing up to some classes, please visit www.absolutetranslations.com and for any enquiries on Absolute Translations, please contact Jayna at jayna@datadial.net
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