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If you’ve gone on a trip to another country and picked up some of the local lingo, you know how thrilling it is to speak a new language. These days, it’s become downright trendy thanks to apps like Duolingo, Memrise and Busuu that make the process fun with interactive games and video clips. Doing this as an adult is definitely a next-level experience—more so than sitting through Spanish or French class in high school.
And it could have payoffs you never imagined. Acquiring a second language can prime your brain to stay young and vibrant. “The brain is like any other part of our body—it needs exercise,” says Dr. Suzanne Flynn, Professor of Linguistics and Language Acquisition at MIT. Learning a new language offers a mental workout that in turn, she continues, “provides myriad advantages cognitively and in many other domains of our lives.”
Here's how learning a new language can be great for mental acuity:
Speaking another language strengthens your mind.
Studies link being bilingual to improved memory, better focus and delayed onset of cognitive decline. People who know other languages are better able to compensate for brain deterioration and live a healthy life for longer, notes Dr. Viorica Marian, a psycholinguist and cognitive scientist who’s the author of The Power of Language. One pivotal study from The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA found that bilingualism can delay Alzheimer’s symptoms by approximately four years.
The mental moves involved in juggling languages might help strengthen neural pathways, experts speculate. Achieving fluency can especially pay off as you get older. Dr. Marian’s analogy: Say you’ve been taking the same route home for years. And then one day, you find that the road has collapsed. If that is the only road that leads home, you’re out of luck. But if there are other routes you can take that you know of, then you can just reroute your car. The same goes for language: If you’ve had a couple of languages you’ve used in life, “you can compensate for anatomical brain deterioration.”
You don’t even have to be fluent to get perks: Just the process of learning can stimulate brain activity and build cognitive resilience. A study in the Journal of Neurolinguistics involving English speakers learning Chinese showed, through MRI imaging, that short-term language study created a more connected brain network for the most successful participants.
It’s good for your confidence.
Getting the hang of a new language can be an extremely rewarding experience, says Dr. Flynn: “You’re adding new dimensions to yourself.” This may feel especially uplifting if you’re experiencing some burnout, and empowering if it’s been a while since you picked up a new skill. Think about it—how fab would it feel to peruse an all-French menu and then place your order in French?
It could benefit your career, too.
In the global economy we live in, being able to list a second language on your resume could make you more attractive to employers and more marketable in global industries and roles. In a survey conducted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, nine out of ten U.S. employers reported a reliance on employees with language skills other than English.
It helps you make meaningful connections.
Language is deeply tied to culture, and speaking another one gives you access to nuances, humor and ideas that translation can’t always capture. You could watch a foreign film without subtitles and get the jokes. Or chat with your grandparents in their native tongue. These are more than conveniences—they're bridges to understanding and belonging. Dr. Marian has observed that when people speak a couple of languages and someone says “I love you” to them in their native tongue, they may have a more emotional reaction.
Yes, You Can
It might seem like children can most easily grasp a new language, but adults most certainly have the ability. “You just need the desire, time and patience,” says Dr. Flynn. Immerse yourself in as many ways as possible. Try listening to podcasts in the new language or do a language exchange with someone who speaks it, she suggests. You could even try talking to yourself for practice.
Remember, learning is not about perfection, it’s about the process. If you accidentally tell someone they have nice pollo (chicken) instead of pelo (hair), laugh it off. “Do not be afraid of making mistakes,” says Dr. Flynn. “Keep trying—this will happen for you.”
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