8 Benefits Why You Should Learn a Second Language

6 min readMay 17, 2024

Not many people jump at the opportunity to learn a second language, and it can be pretty daunting to dive into the unknown sounds, verbs, and tenses of a language you’ve never spoken before.

However, there are many benefits to learning a second language, and it can be an exciting journey to embark on as you discover all the things “you never knew that you never knew.”

My own language learning journey began years ago when I mastered several languages at college. I am considered a polyglot, and because I work internationally, it has helped me tremendously to speak multiple languages.

Not only can I communicate more effectively, but speaking so many languages has also given me a greater cultural awareness.

The result is that I am much more versatile in my communication strategies and even how I think.

But there are many different benefits that learning a new language can give you, and they are quite unexpected too. Let’s find out more.

8 Benefits of Learning a Second Language

We are only scratching the surface of just how many different benefits learning a language offers us, and even these surface level benefits are totally worth it.

I can definitely attest to having experienced all these benefits from my own language learning journey, which is why I am learning many more languages every chance I get.

1. Improved Neural Plasticity

The human brain is constantly developing. By learning new things, it builds neural pathways, maintains neural connections, and more easily repairs damaged tissue.

So by learning a new language, it’s the mental equivalent to going to the gym for a workout.

Your brain tissue diversifies, gray matter increases in volume, and your brain becomes much more effective at doing all daily tasks.

With exposure to the hierarchical systems of language, your brain becomes nimble and better able to process information, resulting in better neural development.

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2. Higher IQ

An effective brain is also a smarter brain. With language learning comes pattern recognition, increased brain capacity, and development of our abstract reasoning faculties.

You get smarter, can identify problems better, and come up with solutions in a much more effective way.

Studies have found that people who are bilingual or a polyglot are better at problem solving, reasoning, and learning. Bilinguals and polyglots have higher IQs than those who speak one language.

3. Better at Mathematics and Engineering

I don’t consider myself a mathematical genius, but studies show people who speak more than one language have a more advanced mathematical capacity.

Math requires reasoning, increased perception, and greater neural development, which is exactly what language learning can give you.

There’s a reason that language and math are the first two subjects that children learn at school — these studies increase brain capacity and diversity.

Without language, math skills won’t develop. So it all boils down to those first phonic, grammar, and spelling exercises you learn at school.

4. Better Memory Development

Did you know that we all think in a language?

That’s right, language is what structures our thoughts. The better your language skills, the better and more effectively your brain thinks.

A perfect spinoff from this is that your brain also interprets information better when you can speak more than one language.

This interpretation of information is broken into processing the data, storing that data, and then retrieving information.

By being bilingual or a polyglot, you are better able to file information and access that information — aka memory.

With a highly developed language center in the brain, you’re more logical, and your brain better remembers where information is stored, which helps with remembering.

5. Improved Social Skills

Languages don’t exist in a void, and when you learn a foreign language, you also learn about a different culture.

Exposure to a different culture and unique social interactions all helps contribute to developing better social skills.

If you speak someone’s language, you have greater empathy and understanding of that language and the people who speak that language.

In a world where Google Translate seems capable of translating any language, it’s still expected of foreign diplomats to learn the language of their host countries, but why?

Because learning a language means you learn about the people, understand how they think, and embrace their culture.

6. Develop Empathy

When you learn a second language, you are exposed to the cultures, values, and dreams of people who speak that language, which helps develop your empathy skills.

A more empathic person is a great communicator, better manager of people, and just a more effective human being.

You’ll find you can read people much better, communicate without misunderstandings, and you can see to the heart of people you would previously not have understood.

7. Ward Off Brain Disease

The human brain develops as we use it.

So if you are learning a second language or are bilingual, your brain receives more input, which leads to better brain health.

Those who speak more than one language are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia.

8. Better Career Prospects

When you speak more than one language, your career prospects increase.

Speaking multiple languages enables you to apply to more management positions, build a better portfolio, and become more trained in your career path.

Of course, the social and empathic skills that being bilingual brings to your skills set helps you better manage people, be a better team player, and avoid conflict, which all contribute to your hireability.

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The Final Word

The majority of people in the world speak at least two languages, but being fluent in more languages is a huge benefit to your health, career, mental development, and overall social skills.

We should all try to learn new languages, and with the many language learning apps available, there’s no excuse not to start learning a new language today.

The benefits of learning a new language are enough to convince anyone that learning languages is fun.

Now you know the “why” of learning a second language, you can begin deciding on what language you’d like to learn.

Success depends on whether you will use that language, if you have exposure to people speaking that language, and whether you have the time and dedication to engage in language studies.

Which second language would you like to learn?

It’s time to dive into the beautiful sounds of a foreign language and discover the culture that the language comes from.