Many people have embarked in the task of learning a foreign language; some with more success than others. But what are the advantages of being bilingual? Bilingual, or multilingual, individuals have better job opportunities than those who are not. Bilingual individuals are also better paid than their monolingual counterparts are. Likewise, they can also have first-hand access to a great deal of information available in different media without the need of a translator or an interpreter. Additionally, the opportunities to apply to scholarships in foreign universities both for undergraduate and graduate studies increase tremendously for bilingual/multilingual individuals, not to mention the possibilities to visit countries where the language is spoken, or even settle down there. All these benefits seem obvious, but did you ever think that being bilingual would make you more intelligent?
Numerous studies show that knowing another language improves brain functions to focus attention and perform mental tasks. It has been found, for instance, that individuals who speak another language can process information more easily and more efficiently. Similarly, research demonstrates that knowing another language improves problem solving, decision-making, and the possibility to perform several tasks simultaneously. The results of these studies suggest that being bilingual can stop, or delay, loss of cognitive flexibility (capacity to adapt to unknown or unexpected circumstances), or even prevent diseases such as Alzheimer. So if you still have doubts about studying another language, consider the numerous benefits it can represent for your personal as well as your professional life.