Language brings us together and it’s how we communicate our thoughts, feelings and ideas with others.
According to the Journal of Neurolinguistics, 43% of the world is bilingual. Compare this to another statistic from the U.S. Center for Immigration Studies that states 20.6% of Americans speak a language other than English in their homes.
The fact that only about one fourth of people in the U.S. speak multiple languages is appalling. Language is one of the most important factors that can unite us as humans. Language is important not only for development now, but also for later in life.
According to the National Institute of Health, multilingualism can counteract cognitive decline in old age. Studies also show that knowing more than one language can help in memory, communication skills and creativity.
Scientists have established that while speaking our native language, we use the left side of our brain, but a second language isn’t limited to a single hemisphere, meaning that someone who is bilingual would be stimulating more of the brain.
When learning a new language, you’re open to a whole new world. Our understanding of the world is based on the languages we already know. By learning a new one, you also understand a new culture a little better.
Alexa Pippin, French teacher, lived in France for two years before teaching. Pippin said being bilingual is an important skill.
“It gives you the opportunity to get to know people in a different way and to try to meet them where they are,” Pippin said. “Any language is just a great opportunity to just see things from a different point of view.”
Pippin specifically mentioned a quote by Nelson Mandela that says, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
“I think it’s important to us to all speak to each other and speak to our hearts and what is truly important and what we love and care about,” Pippin said. “Our words are what make us us.”
Learning a new language may seem like a daunting task, however, it’s possible to use resources like Duolingo and watching and interacting with media in different languages to help you learn. MHS also provides many opportunities to learn new languages, including Spanish, ASL, German, Latin and French.
