Importance Of Being Bilingual

Great Essays
How important is being bilingual? From birth almost everyone learns the language that their parents or relatives teaches to them, this allows them to communicate with the world. However, the confinement of only knowing one language can have its’ own issues and drawbacks. Every individual desires to speak and express themselves with no problem and what greater asset than knowing a second language? Speaking more than one language is an advantage for many professionals as the world becomes increasingly globalized. Learning a second language has become an essential. To learn a second language is becoming a necessity, as other languages are used in almost all areas of the working industry. People use different languages to explore different cultures, …show more content…
If one takes the time to understand and comprehend the culture and language from various people, one can comprehend that there is a larger world outside of one’s country, a world larger than could ever be imagined. Learning a new language could even be compared to having the ability to teleport, in the aspect that having a new language under one’s (figurative) belt facilitates the ability to travel. Another magnificent opportunity that comes from being bilingual is the ability to meet all kinds of new and interesting people. One can learn from these new people, and begin to understand things that one has never personally or directly experienced before. And who knows, interacting with a new person could influence the appreciation and practice of a new and exciting hobby, this interaction can bring about some new ideas, tastes, books, and whatever else contributes to make the life more valuable and meaningful. When one takes interest in the culture of other people, one develops a capacity of understanding and tolerance towards different people. Individuals are more capable of acceptance, and an enlargement of the mind that allows them to see that there is no "right" way to live. According to Go Overseas, it is stated “To truly understand a culture, you have to know what the people are talking about.” This can make one realize that as a …show more content…
However, speaking a different language expands our mind so that we may have the opportunity to enrich our lives and experience our brain’s full capacitiy to become more intelligent. According to The New York Times, “Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter.” Since people who are bilingual constantly switch between different languages, they are able to develop the capacity to multitask more efficiently. The mind is exercised better by developing the capacity to work with a new language. Studies demonstrate that those who learn a second language can delay the symptoms of Alzheimer 's for up to five years. Not only is learning a new language is important, but it can help the brain throughout life’s journey. It is true, that learning a new language can be hard work for the mind of a human, but one can become more creative. As the new language becomes practiced in your daily routine your mind be becomes widened by the foreign language. One’s brain becomes stimulated in a positive manner, so one becomes accustomed to seeing connections that previously were ignored. According to the article Being Bilingual: The Neuroplastic Workout, “Being bilingual is a forced way to exercise your mental strength: neuroplasticity.” This allows everyone to work with their brain and achieve better outcomes in learning a new

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    In the article “Beyond Survival English” by Tamar Jacoby the author presents her opinion and explains how english is good but being bilingual benefits you even more. Immigrants come into the United States because there is more success in America. Learning academic english is important because of the popularity of the english language. In addition being bilingual benefits you even more by giving you a higher salary, helps you translate for other people, and helps you on interviews and finding jobs etc.…

    • 82 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oftentimes, people who speak more than one language are seen as intelligent and resourceful. They may receive comments such as, “Wow, that’s so difficult! I could never do that!” But to bilingual individuals, the ability to speak two languages is barely scraping the bottom of the barrel. Two bilingual authors by the names of Martín Espada and Richard Rodriguez have plenty to say about their definition of what bilingualism truly is.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    According to the Society of Neuroscience, bilingualism not only improves an individual's concentration ability, but might also protect the human brain against age-related diseases (Susan Perry). There is no doubt that bilingualism brings out individual cognitive benefits. But, what about collective advantages? James Fallows effectively addresses those benefits in his article "Viva Bilingualism. "…

    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Universally, bilingualism is know as the speaking of two or more languages fluently. However, bilingualism has a far deeper meaning. I believe that bilingualism is the combination of two or more cultures and their languages into one’s life, and that it is the ability to communicate with a variety of people, not just people from one’s own countries. Throughout their essays, essayists Rodriguez and Espada develop different definitions of bilingualism.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Being bilingual opens new horizons for several people in the world. If all people were bilingual, everyone would be able to communicate more fluently, without the need for translators or people stammering in attempt to talk in another language. Moreover, a second language can provide you with better business opportunities, like a job with a Latino country if you know Spanish or Latin. Overall, having even a few words from a second “lengua” stashed in your memory for later use can benefit you immensely in the future. First of all, you could be a translator.…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being able to respond to something so little made the spanish doctor and myself feel happy. I realized bilingualism, isn’t just about speaking multiple languages, it’s retaining, your culture and identity, while trying to accept learning a new language. Martin Espada and Richard Rodriguez have their own views of bilingualism. Espada’s definition of Bilingualism is speaking multiple languages, but to make sure to focus on your original culture and identity. Rodriguez's definition of bilingualism is that you should try your hardest to learn a new language…

    • 1107 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Introduction Prior to the Bilingual Education Acts Prior to the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, the U.S. government had a change in attitude towards bilingualism and bilingual educations. At times, there was this permissive attitude that allowed teaching through the mother tongue acceptable. As long as it was within the jurisdiction of local towns and districts, schools were allowed to teach in the child’s native language. However, there were times in which higher authorities were strongly against languages other than the English. This hostile climate would culminate in the some of the nation’s most drastic changes in the public schools resulting in the reduction of any type of bilingual instruction offered by some states (Nieto, 2009).…

    • 1102 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Can we lose our cultural language in the learning the English language? Many people have the advantage of having the knowledge of two different languages. This can be a benefit or a drawback at some point. Some people may argue that we slowly lose our cultural identity once you fully adapt a second language.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States is an extremely diverse country, which is why learning another language is such an important responsibility. Having the knowledge of another language allows for people to be more culturally accepting, and more intrigued to learn about different lifestyles. To be able to communicate with people from different countries and understand their first language gives the body, brain, and mind a self-esteem and power boost. Being bilingual has numerous opportunities; meeting and developing new relationships is one of the many benefits from knowing another language. To be able to get close to someone who speaks a different language means that there is an endless and continuous amount of learning about each person.…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    According the article by Olena Centeno a person who is bilingual is inclined to have an interest and immerse themselves into another culture. Olena Centeno also states that bilingualism experience tolerance for a different culture. Bilingualism can also boost one’s confidence with communicating with…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Studies also shows learning another language does predict brain health in old age and improves certain mental functions because you have to control the two languages you know, While you communicate in one language, you 've got to manage and control the other language." Also According to why everyone should learn a second language(march 21, 2015) by Kayla Mattew, said that being bilingual can improves your hearing by force you brain to pay more attention to the surrounding around you and helps improve memory and eliminate some bias and making better decision. (greater attention focus ognitive performance on tests and had greater attention focus, distraction resistance, decision-making, judgment and responsiveness to feedback Language learning is described as a kind of re-wiring of the brain which can form new neurons and connections among the intellectual network. So adding another language to…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Statistics show that the Mexican-American race has the highest number of people that populate the United States, and this demographic continues to grow even more. A Mexican-American is an American of full or partial Mexican decent. My parents, both born in Mexico, migrated to the United States in search of a better future for themselves and children. Because of my Hispanic roots, and my birth in the U.S., I am considered a Mexican-American. As a result of my equivalent exposure to two different cultures, I grew up being bilingual.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Benefits of Bilingualism Being bilingual means being able to use two languages effectively in four skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening. Because of the demanding of English language in almost every aspect of life since English language is one of the global languages, there are a lot of people who are willing to learn English as a second language to improve their life. However, learning second language is not limited to English only, but also there are different languages that can be learned as second language. For example, Mandarina, Arabic, Spanish and Hindi are at the top of the most five spoken languages in the world (Summary by language size, n.d.). Since bilingualism is one of the worldwide phenomena, there are so many advantages of being bilingual.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Growing up in a big mixed family is a must to know two different languages, Spanish and English. It’s a great disadvantage because Today, I 'm a bilingual. Well, semi-bilingual. It’s useful to be able to communicate with my family, for work, and pretty much everywhere I go. But at the end of it all, it’s a blessing and curse.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

     Bilingual individuals have been shown to be more creative and better at planning and solving complex problems than monolinguals.  The effects of aging on the brain are diminished among bilingual adults.  In one study, the onset of dementia was delayed by 4 years in bilinguals compared to monolinguals with dementia.  Bilingual individuals have greater access to people and resources.  Employment rates are higher for bilinguals than monolinguals (Lowry, (n.d)).…

    • 1362 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays