You will become more marketable....

 

Today’s post is by Christine McConnell, Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

1. You will gain better appreciation of other cultures. Even if you end up in a country where you have no grasp of the language whatsoever, by speaking two languages you’ve multiplied your chances of finding someone with whom you can communicate. Effective communication is the key to understanding and respecting most, if not all, cultural differences.
2. You will become more marketable. In the 21^st century, nearly 20 percent of all Americans speak a second language (as opposed to 56 percent of Europeans and 38 percent of the British). If you are fluent in a second language, your skill set is doubled. You are more versatile. You’ve moved up onto a whole new level. Fluency in another language can translate into new opportunities to communicate with international clients and perhaps even to travel abroad.
3. You will be able to comfortably travel abroad. The ability to read road signs and placards, ask for directions, and order off a menu convincingly will all make your travel abroad more safe and relaxing. Making sense of the local vernacular will also allow you to tune into certain nuances and cultural references that will definitely make your travel abroad more interesting.
4. You will improve your memory. Learning an additional language requires a lot of brain power, what with all the conjugating and the memorizating of new vocabulary words. Studies have shown that bilingual adults possess improved memory and executive function as opposed to people who only speak one language.[1] This will come in handy when recounting all of your wonderful new travel tales.
5. You will stave off dementia and Alzheimer’s. In 2013, the medical journal Neurology published a study of 684 patients with dementia. The study found that bilingual patients developed Alzheimer’s or dementia nearly five years later than the patients who spoke only one language.[2] Compelling, right?
6. You will just be all around smarter. A 2004 psychological study concluded that people who speak two or more languages were more adept at problem solving, planning, and other mentally demanding tasks, and that they had higher levels of cognitive brain function.[3] Bilingual people can switch between languages several times throughout the day. This constant shifting back and forth acts like a workout for the brain making bilinguals better at multi-tasking, quicker on their feet, and yes smarter overall.

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently? Like to try a risk free trial? Please don’t hesitate to contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

[1] http://dana.org/Cerebrum/2012/The_Cognitive_Benefits_of_Being_Bilingual/

[2] http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers/bilingualism-may-slow-alzheimers-progression-9826.aspx

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html?_r=1&

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