How Learning a New Language Can Boost Cognitive Intelligence
An Oxbridge Students Guide to Language Benefits
Despite a decline in language entries at UK schools, building research shows language learning is increasingly important and cognitively beneficial in today’s increasingly global society and the Guardian and British Academy found that 70% of those students surveyed desired to learn a new language. Read on to discover some of the numerous cognitive benefits of languages to students’ creativity, confidence and communication.
So Why Learn a New Language?
Out of the world's approximately 7.5 billion inhabitants, 1.5 billion speak English—that's 20% of the Earth's population, and this figure rises to just over 50% if we only take Europe into consideration. For native English speakers, it could be asked, “What’s the point in learning another language, if English is everywhere?”. Indeed, a large proportion of the British population have fallen into this trap—a survey ran by the British council revealed that the British are officially the worst language learners in Europe. Learning a foreign language is not a popular option at school in Britain, with children often only starting a foreign language at the age of 11 and many students giving up languages completely by 14. There is a real problem with language learning in Britain, yet it goes unnoticed because we can so easily get away with relying on people from other countries being able to speak our language. However, there are endless benefits to learning a new language and we encourage our students to consider these:
Learning a new language enhances cognitive ability
Learning a foreign language is one of the most effective ways to increase intelligence and keep your mind sharp. It not only improves memory, but increases attention span, develops listening skills, problem solving skills and greater cognitive flexibility. Recent research even suggests that learning a new language (at any stage in life) can delay the onset of brain ageing, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.[1]
You don’t just learn a new language, you gain access to a new culture and modes of thinking
Language is closely linked to culture, which in turn is linked to thought. It is often the case that people from different countries think about concepts in different ways, which is expressed through their language - this explains why sometimes there is simply no direct translation. For example, something called an ‘ideophone’ appears in many languages across the world yet is very uncommon in Western languages. An ‘ideophone’ is a word that depicts the sight, sound, smell or feelings of a situation. For example, an ideophone in Mundari is “ribuy-tibuy” meaning ‘sight or sound of a fat person’s buttocks rubbing together as they walk’! Learning a new language can help you gain access to a culture that sees or thinks about concepts differently to what you’re used to.
Learning a language makes you a better listener
Being able to understand new languages helps you engage with a broader range of people better. Learning more than one language improves not only your speaking skills, but also helps you to become a better listener. You can become more acute at picking up on the intricacies of different cultures, and enables you to listen to people without the need for translation or interruption. This develops skills in empathy, as you can relate to people in a way that meets them on their terms.
Employers love foreign language speakers
To keep up with today’s rapidly increasing global economy, employers are increasingly on the lookout for people who can build personal and professional relationships with those from other countries. In the wake of Brexit this is important now more than ever given that we can expect to see British trade expanding to countries outside of Europe. Being able to speak a foreign language is becoming a progressively important and necessary skill for employees.
Improves Decision Making & Problem Solving Skills
Learning a new language can improve decision-making abilities by increasing the ability to weigh different options and make choices based on the available information. Learning a new language also requires the brain to solve linguistic problems, such as how to use grammar rules correctly or how to convey a specific meaning. This kind of problem-solving can help improve overall problem-solving skills in other areas of life.
The Three C's
Learning a new language boosts your Creativity, Confidence, and Communication. Striking up a conversation with a stranger in English in itself can be difficult, let alone in another language, so coming away from having a great conversation in another language can often fill you with a huge burst of pride and sense of achievement, in turn providing you with a newfound confidence in your language skills. Language speakers also find that you have to be creative, thinking of ways to communicate what you want to say even though you may not know how say it, which hugely boosts your ability to communicate effectively.
[1] https://bebrainfit.com/benefits-learning-second-language/
Useful resources for learning languages
One useful way to get used to reading in a new language is accessing online newspapers which discuss topical events and news from across the globe. A full database of online newspapers can be found here: Online Newspapers
If reading becomes a chore, you can always switch to listening to local and foreign radio stations to get used to hearing a new language spoken. Often, these are discursive and chatty which allows you to get a sense of a new language spoken naturally and conversationally. You can access a selection of foreign radio stations here: Listen Live
If you’re looking for some Oxbridge level support, the CamGuides series is a great way to learn about the academic skills required during university-level study and where some potential future language learning placements might be! Find them here: CamGuides
By Sian, U2 mentor (Spanish and Linguistics, Oxford)
How can U2 help you learn a new language?
As we’ve discussed above, pursuing linguistics or languages to a higher level opens up opportunities at top universities such as Oxbridge or Ivy League Schools, enhances cognitive strength and boosts employability.
At U2, we encourage students to explore as many extracurricular opportunities as possible, to develop their academic ability beyond school curriculums and exam syllabuses. U2 has a multitude of language tutors in our team, including those who provide tuition for French, Spanish, German, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian.
Get in touch for further information on the opportunities available or view our Language Hub on our extracurricular site, Minds Underground.
1-1 sessions from £70/h + VAT.