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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
