Studies have shown time and time again that learning a foreign language has many great benefits on the human brain and longevity. If you have ever envisioned learning a foreign language, now is the time to start. It may surprise you how much it will affect your personal as well as professional life. Besides being able to communicate with people from other countries, there are some interesting perceptual benefits to knowing more than one language.
According to a study conducted by Dr. Panos Athanasopoulos, of Newcastle University, bilingual speakers think differently than monolinguals. This occurs with even a cursory knowledge of another language effects peoples’ outlook. The study involved English and Japanese speakers and their perception of color. The Japanese participants viewed a color chart for blue with two more terms for light blue (mizuiro) and dark blue (ao) than in English. Past studies have found that different languages will rate shades of colors differently on a scaled color chart. In this particular study, native Japanese monolinguals distinguished between light and dark blue more than English speakers, and as expected the Japanese-English bilinguals closely followed the standard of their native language (Japanese).
“As well as learning vocabulary and grammar you’re also unconsciously learning a whole new way of seeing the world,” said Dr Athanasopoulos. “There’s an inextricable link between language, culture and cognition. If you’re learning language in a classroom you are trying to achieve something specific, but when you’re immersed in the culture and speaking it, you’re thinking in a completely different way.”
Knowing a second language can be very useful in your professional career-by learning another country’s language and culture, you can gain insight into their thought processes and business tactics. Of course, it can also be used as a tool to look at your own culture through their eyes too.
Newcastle University (2011, March 14). Bilinguals see the world in a different way, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2011/03/110314132531.htm
Get started learning a language today at theSan Jose Learning Center. We offer 17 Foreign Language Classes in San Jose for your educational interest.
