Did you know that UNESCO estimates that, if nothing is done, half of 6,000 plus languages spoken today will disappear by the end of this century?
Speaking a second language not only helps keep these languages alive, but there are other benefits to being bilingual too.
Here are five of them:
1. It keeps your brain healthy as you age
Numerous studies have shown a clear correlation between bilingualism and reduced incidence or later onset of dementia. Being bilingual appears to keep the brain healthy and better able to resist the effects of aging.
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2. It can give children an academic advantage
Children have no difficulty in acquiring more than one language, provided the input is consistent. In terms of mother-tongue literacy, studies have shown that schoolchildren who receive good quality instruction in a second language tend to outperform their peers who do not.
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3. It improves your employment prospects
Speaking more than one language gives you access to a wider job market and can often result in higher pay.
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4. It gives you access to more than one culture
Bilingualism provides a window into the culture that is otherwise impossible. It introduces you to alternative ways to express yourself and adds depth to your understanding of the human experience.
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5. It improves your understanding of your native language and makes it easier to learn a third
Learning a second language helps you reflect on your own language. The understanding of how language works, coupled with the experience you have already gained of second-language learning, makes it all the easier to learn a third.
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The SBS National Languages Competition 2018 is an exciting initiative to encourage and celebrate a love of learning languages in Australia. It’s a nationwide competition to engage language learners and reflect on the cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of Australia's multicultural society.
