The Benefits of Taking a Foreign Language

Many high schools offer a variety of foreign languages ranging from Spanish and French to German and Japanese. Whether you’re already in a language, or deciding if you should enroll in one, join us as we take you through our case for why you should take a foreign language.

Developmental Benefits

• Improved Memory and Retention: Learning a second language strengthens the brain’s ability to retain information and improves both short-term and long-term memory.

• Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Bilingual individuals often develop stronger problem-solving abilities as they learn to think in different languages and juggle multiple linguistic systems.

• Greater Cognitive Flexibility: Learning a language enhances the brain’s ability to switch between tasks and adapt to new situations, leading to greater mental flexibility.

• Boosted Critical Thinking: Language learners develop a better understanding of grammar, structure, and meaning, which sharpens analytical thinking skills.

• Better Multitasking: Bilingual individuals have been shown to be better at multitasking, as they regularly practice switching between languages, which enhances the ability to switch between tasks.

Academic benefits

• College Requirements: Some colleges require at least 2 years of classes in a foreign language to be admitted – many more highly recommend it. This means that even if it is not required, it is a benefit for your application that shows you have invested time and effort into learning a language.

• Graduation Requirements: Many colleges require that you take a language while at their institution in order to graduate – starting early and taking a language in high school can help you skip the requirement or start at a higher level and finish the requirement in a shorter time.

• Enhanced Performance in Other Subjects: Learning a new language often improves students' understanding of other subjects, such as history, geography, and culture, by exposing them to different cultural perspectives. For instance, learning Spanish might give insight into Latin American history, while learning French could enhance understanding of European culture.

• Improved Grammar and Vocabulary: Learning a second language increases a student’s awareness of grammar rules, sentence structure, and vocabulary in their native language, leading to better communication and writing skills.

Life Benefits

Learning another language can help expand cultural understanding, worldview, and perspective. Many employers also prefer to hire individuals who are fluent in more than one language. This is all to say that there are countless reasons why learning a new language is good! If you’re worried about keeping up with the pace of a language, reach out to RRA! We’re here to support you with study plans and tutors.