Speaking multiple tongues can accelerate your career opportunities and lend insight into how others view the world. Did you know that multilingualism can also impact your mental health?
When I was overwhelmed during my university days, hunkering down with my Mandarin Chinese homework actually had a strangely calming effect. When I was lost in the new vocabulary and learning the characters, I could feel things fitting together in a way they refused to in real life — my brain was working in a new way to see the world through the lens of another culture.
During lockdown, I used my free time to teach myself Beginner’s Irish on Duolingo, and it gave me something positive and concrete to focus on in an uncertain world.
I thought using language learning as a mental health management strategy was just a matter of my own interest in different cultures — but actually, I’m not alone in the discovery. Studies show that language learning improves cognitive ability over time, which can have several benefits for your overall mental health.
If you’re experiencing racing thoughts, depression or anxiety, you might try turning to your favorite Spanish skills app for relief. Here’s how learning a new language improves your mental health.
1. It Improves Your Communication Skills
People with learning disabilities are often left to fend for themselves after graduating secondary school. That doesn’t stop autism or struggles with reading comprehension from impacting their activities of daily living.
Learning a second language can help you hone your communication skills — regardless of your age. Despite young children picking up languages more readily due to neuroplasticity, research indicates even university-age students can obtain an advanced level of reading proficiency in another tongue. Doing so gives them an edge in the workplace, as many words have similar roots across languages, increasing the reader’s vocabulary and confidence.
2. It Encourages Mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to halting ruminations and racing future fears by grounding yourself in the present moment. It’s particularly useful for individuals with anxiety disorders who need to learn how to sit with difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed and paralyzed by them.
Have you ever read the same paragraph three times without understanding it when you were distracted by thoughts of something else? Maybe you did it just now with this one. It’s natural for your mind to wander when you’re preoccupied.
However, reading the same passage in a foreign tongue forces you to concentrate all your energies on the task at hand. You take your thoughts off your worries and direct them toward positive activity.
3. It Helps You Connect With Others
Do you sometimes feel like you don’t fully belong in the society where you find yourself? If so, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, it’s a big world out there with dozens of philosophies, and you, too, can find your tribe.
Language learning can help, especially if you don’t have the means to travel the world. Once you gain basic proficiency in your chosen tongue, you can sign up for a pen pal program and begin corresponding with a new friend on the other side of the globe. You can share more than an exchange of words — you can learn about how they interpret the human experience.
4. It Imparts Empathy
Empathy is all too lacking in society today. However, the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes has decided advantages on the personal and career fronts.
Understanding diversity is a decided plus in today’s workforce. Multiple studies indicate that diverse teams perform better, and learning a foreign language helps you recognize such contributions.
Likewise, many relationships fall apart over misunderstandings. Learning a new language can affect your brain, making you more open-minded toward opposing viewpoints. The few extra seconds you take to ask yourself, “Am I interpreting what they say the right way,” can diffuse situations that could otherwise turn testy.
5. You Ward Off Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline affects many older adults. One way to avoid it is by keeping your brain active by learning a foreign language.
A recent study by John Grundy, Professor of Psychology at Ohio State University, analyzed more than 20 existing inquiries, making allowances for socioeconomic status and education. They found that individuals who were bilingual delayed the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms, extending their overall quality of life.
6. You Develop a Sense of Agency
A sense of agency refers to the concept that your decisions can bring about needed changes in your world. Feeling powerless can leave you overwhelmed with anxiety and despair.
Language learning affects your brain, leading to more “Eureka” moments. The confidence you gain when the lightbulb goes on reinforces your belief that you have the power to conquer tough challenges.
Learning a New Language Improves Your Mental Health
Studies on mental health and multilingualism show several decided perks of practicing a foreign tongue. From helping you develop mindfulness to improving your relationships and busting stress, learning to parlez vous has multiple benefits. But if the studies don’t convince you, take it from someone who has used language learning as a way to weather several storms in her life — trust me, they make a surprising difference.
Fortunately, today’s world of apps makes it a snap to begin mastering French or even Swahili. Why not choose a new language to learn today and improve your overall mental health?