Settlement Guide: 5 benefits of being bilingual

Australia’s diverse population speaks over 300 languages – making it one of the most multilingual countries in the world. Yet young Australians are losing interest in learning a foreign language. So, what are the benefits of being bilingual?

Hello in Different Languages

Hello in different languages word cloud on blackboard Source: Dusan Manic/Getty Images

1. It keeps your brain healthy as you age
Numerous studies have shown a clear correlation between bilingualism and reduced incidence or later onset of dementia. Being bilingual appears to keep the brain healthy and better able to resist the effects of aging.

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brain_by_francesco_carta_fotografo_getty_images Source: Getty Images
2. It can give children an academic advantage
Children have no difficulty in acquiring more than one language, provided the input is consistent. In terms of mother-tongue literacy, studies have shown that schoolchildren who receive good quality instruction in a second language tend to outperform their peers who do not.
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3. It improves your employment prospects
Speaking more than one language gives you access to a wider job market and can often result in higher pay.
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4. It gives you access to more than one culture
Bilingualism provides a window into the culture that is otherwise impossible. It introduces you to alternative ways to express yourself and adds depth to your understanding of the human experience.

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5. It improves your understanding of your native language and makes it easier to learn a third
Learning a second language helps you reflect on your own language. The understanding of how language works, coupled with the experience you have already gained of second-language learning, makes it all the easier to learn a third.

Bilingual child
Source: Getty Images.jpg
 


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2 min read
Published 20 July 2016 2:23pm
Updated 28 July 2016 4:19pm
By Ildiko Dauda
Source: ELT Learning Journeys


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