The Importance of Multilingualism

Hola, Bonjour, Ciao, Hallo. All different ways of saying the same thing, just in different languages. Not only does being bilingual look cool but it can open so many doors for so many new opportunities.

Studies show that Spanish speakers are highly sought after job candidates with 70 percent of the workforce predicted to be Spanish speaking. Being able to check off the little bilingual box on job applications will give you a greater advantage over monolingual applicants who apply for the same position. Not only are you more likely to get picked for the position but, you also get paid 5-20% more per hour compared to a monolingual person. With the average American salary being about $56,516, the smallest percent could mean so much more income.

Most high school students plan to attend a 4-year university after graduating. College boards are more likely to pick more well-rounded students who speak multiple languages rather than a monolingual applicant. People who devote themselves to learning not only the language but the culture of the language they are learning create well rounded, socially aware students in society.

Learning another language now can help you with your school work too and also long term. Learning another language improves your thinking skills, memory, and brain function. Language is controlled in the perisylvian cortex in the brain which is located in the front of the brain. When you learn another language, the right side of this cortex becomes stronger and functions according to PET scans.

Not only can being bilingual improve your life, but it can improve your overall health. Studies have found that people who learn another language at a younger age that are predisposed to have Alzheimer's, get Alzheimer's four years later than a monolingual person with the same predisposition.