Why learn a foreign language? Benefits of bilingualism

   

  Learning a foreign language is more than just a boost to your CV or handy for travelling. It will make you smarter, more decisive and even better at English, says Anne Merritt.

 

      Physiological studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer several mental benefits.

    It is said that there are seven cognitive advantages to learning a foreign language. Many of these attributes are only apparent in people who speak multiple languages regularly – if you haven’t spoken a foreign tongue since your A levels, your brain might not be reaping these bilingual benefits. However, people who begin language study in their adult lives can still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits, too.

     You become smarter. Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other problem-solving tasks as well.

     Students who study foreign languages tend to score better on standardised tests than their monolingual peers, particularly in the categories of maths, reading, and vocabulary.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Speaking one or more foreign languages improves your mind.

b. The longer you don't speak a foreign language, the less benefits you get for your brain.

c. You must learn foreign languages when you are a kid if you want to benefit from that fact.

d. Foreign students do better on standardised tests, particularly in the categories of maths, reading and vocabulary.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What are the benefits of learning a foreign language?

b. In what aspects can speaking foreign languages help people?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a.  useful par. 1

b. benefit par .2

c.  to pick par. 3

d.  accomplish par. 3

e. to enhance, to improve par 4

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Physiological studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process.

According to physiological studies speaking two or more languages has…………….

b. If you haven’t spoken a foreign tongue since your A levels, your brain might not be reaping these bilingual benefits.

Unless you…………………………………….

c. Anne Merritt said: “Learning a foreign language is more than just a boost to your CV;it will make you smarter, more decisive and even better at English”.

Anne Merritt said that...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

What can you do to improve your English?