The Benefits Of Learning A Foreign Language - 1634 Words

In the world today, there are a possibly eight thousand spoken languages. Among the approximately seven and a half billion people living on earth right now, it is estimated that fifty six percent of them speak more than just their native language according to PhD Viorica Marian (Marian, 2012). In shocking contrast, only a meager fifteen to twenty percent of the American population speak more languages than just their native language. In a world where it is becoming increasingly popular for people to learn a secondary language, almost half of the world’s population only knows their native language. When most people think of learning a second language, they think mainly of the time, patience, hard work, and possibly money that they will have†¦show more content†¦People who learn two or more languages also have an easier time interpreting language they have never heard before, as well as distinguishing between the other languages. Furthermore, people who are bilingual ha ve better control over their attention and are less prone to get distracted, as well as being better multitaskers because they constantly have to switch between the two languages, which trains the brain to be better at multitasking, which is actually just the brain rapidly switching between tasks. Finally, as mentioned before, learning the structure and rules of a foreign language can help the learner better understand the concepts behind their own native language. (Dean, 2013) Because learning a new language can greatly improve the functions of the brain, bilingualism has also been proven to have a positive effect on the grades of students across the world. A study by the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) showed that students who studied a foreign language did much better academically than others who had not taken a foreign language. The study was taken on the ACT test scores of almost eighteen thousand students applying to college from the years nineteen eighty-one t o nineteen eighty-five. The results found that high school students who had studied a foreign language consistently scored higher on the english and math portions of the test than those that had not studied a foreign language (Olsen, 1992). With the additionShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Foreign Language Fluency963 Words   |  4 PagesCommission on Foreign Language and International Studies, recommended foreign language for all colleges and universities. Four year later, foreign language was recognized as a basic skill by the College Board. As the education landscape continued to expand, foreign languages became an integral part of the curriculum, with many recommending teaching the necessary skill during early childhood. Numerous research studies and academic scholars have touted the benefits and necessity of learning a foreign languageRead MoreForeign Language : An Educational Trend1010 Words   |  5 PagesForeign Language: An Educational Trend A growing new educational trend across the US, is learning a foreign language. Foreign languages not only benefit adults, but can also broaden the minds of young children. The pros, cons, and the effect a foreign language can have on children come into effect at an earlier stage when taught. â€Å"Since the late 1960’s, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has conducted regular national surveys on the status of foreign language enrollmentRead Moreforeign language instruction should beg1476 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Topic: Foreign Language Instruction Should Begin in Kindergarten, Discuss. Submitted to: - Rob Horlin Submitted by: - Ranjit Singh Student ID - 13903 Class- EAP 2A Date -29-08-2014 Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten, discuss. Foreign language is a language native to other nation. Learning a foreign language is becoming essential nowadays and it can change the way of life. To communicate and trade with people from different nations there is a greatRead MoreMotivation Is Not Always Present For The Classroom At Milby High School1642 Words   |  7 Pagesconversation with it. My parents always wanted me to learn more Spanish and perfect it in order to have a better future. I never saw the point of it until I was placed Mrs. Garcia’s Spanish level 1 class. The first days of class I had zero motivation into learning Spanish but as the weeks passed I began to feel like Mrs. Garcia really went above and beyond to try to teach us what was her passion. When I began to see how much Mrs. Garcia cared for us, I began to try more in every assignment. She also broughtRead MoreAdvantages of Learning Foreign Languages711 Words   |  3 Pagesother mouse, â€Å"Do you realize how important it is to learn a foreig n language?† This is a joke but also a slice-of-life story. Learning a foreign language is a popular choice for many people. Even though some people believe that learning a foreign language should not be required because they do not go abroad, and it is not commonly used in daily lives, more people agree that they can get benefits from learning a foreign language. Foreign languages are useful for people who either go to another countryRead MoreA Child s Brain Is Always Growing And Absorbing New Information1311 Words   |  6 Pagestheir minds and grow their opportunities is to learn a foreign language (Kathleen M. Marcos). While starting school can be intimidating for a child, it can seem even more daunting starting their education in a language different from what is spoken at home. However, the few challenges that come along with this experience are greatly outweighed by the benefits. Most research conclusively shows that there are many ways in which foreign language educat ion aids in different aspects of a child’s life Read MoreBilingual Is The New Black1140 Words   |  5 Pagesspeak a language other than English when at home (Speaking in Tongues). While most schools require at least two year of foreign language, this is not really enough to familiarize yourself with a language. It would not only be in the students best interest to do this, but also the schools as it increases academic achievement. It also improves your cognitive functions and benefits society. All of these factors led me to this conclusion: everyone should take at least four years worth of foreign languageRead MoreLearning A Second Language Education Essay1737 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent languages. As a young child, I attended a Spanish immersion program through my pre-school and elementary school. I was absorbed into a new culture much different from my own. I grew up learning words in Spanish before I knew them in English. I also developed unexpected friendships, spending much of my childhood in Spanish speaking households. As a college student, I look back on this time and greatly appreciate the skills and lessons I cultivated from learning a second language. SecondRead MoreForeign Language Requirement1173 Words   |  5 PagesForeign Language High School Requirement A survey done by the Center for Applied Linguistics in 2008 found that The findings indicate a serious disconnect between the national call to educate world citizens with high-level language skills and the current state of foreign language instruction in schools across the country(Cal:Research). This is concerning as all of the competition for the U.S. is gaining a step and we re doing nothing . If the U.S. expects to continue to be competitive in theRead MoreWhy Learning A Foreign Language Is Important?832 Words   |  4 PagesWhy Learning a Foreign Language is Important? Language is very important for every human being. It helps us to communicate with each other also to be able to read, write and understand what we see in the books, television and streets. Language is a system, which helps the humans to operate and communicate similar to the need for operating system that helps the processor to make the hardware and the software work, likewise our need for the language, which helps us to improve our brain that makes