What if I told you that learning a language can change the way your brain works?
It’s true. A study published by The Public Library of Science, a nonprofit publisher of open-access academic journals, found that learning a language improves attention span and memory retention. Knowing our generation’s habit of doomscrolling and lack of focus, I believe that learning a foreign language might be the cure for that.
I may not be the most unbiased source considering my unhealthy obsession with multilingualism, but I promise you that taking the time to learn another language, whether that’s during your time in college or beyond, will change your life for the better.
Cognitive neuroscientist Ellen Bialystok says that learning and practicing a foreign language provides improvements in multitasking and helps combat Alzheimer’s disease, but you must practice your chosen language on a daily basis to reap those benefits.
If you need to boost your GPA or bring your grade up in class, language learning has got you covered. Practicing and speaking a second language improves both concentration and memory, in addition to increasing your overall academic performance.
With all this in mind, some of you might be asking, “Which language should I study?” or “Which language is the easiest for me to pick up?”
Well, that depends entirely on you. But if it comes down to difficulty, Spanish might be your best bet.
Firstly, almost all words in Spanish are pronounced exactly as they’re spelled, so there’s no need to fret over getting your pronunciation right, as opposed to languages that are phonetically more difficult like French or ones that boast intimidating compound words like German — try saying “Fünfhundertfünfundfünfzig” five times fast.
Secondly, Spanish flaunts a variety of English cognates, making it easier for native English speakers to pick up on new vocabulary and terms.
Lastly, Spanish remains one of the top five most spoken languages in the world, with more than 550 million speakers globally last year. Its accessibility and ease of learning make it a perfect candidate for anyone looking to broaden their linguistic palates.
Cognitive benefits aside, however, I must mention the social benefits of language learning. In my experience, the most delightful part about picking up a new language, besides gaining access to a wider variety of memes online, is the number of opportunities I get to connect with others and learn about cultures I’m unfamiliar with.
Without my German class, I wouldn’t have known that it’s common to hear rhythmic idioms in German-speaking countries, and without my French class — merci à Mme Booth — I wouldn’t have known that it’s bad manners in France to keep your hands off the dinner table.
Learning a new language opens doorways to rich cultures you might not have been familiar with, so consider signing up for a language class now and thank me later.
Reem Alshaban is a news reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at alshaban28@up.edu.
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