Benefits of being bilingual

There are thousands of people in the world who are bilingual or multilingual. Nowadays, most students prepare themselves to be bilingual, either in their schools or in specialized programs, because speaking more than one language opens doors in many fields.

Therefore, in this donQuijote article you will learn the advantages of being bilingual, why study another language, the difference between the terms bilingual and multilingual, and why you should learn Spanish in Spain.

What is bilingualism?

Bilingualism is the ability of a person to speak two different languages fluently, both written and spoken, in any context. Bilingual people can speak two different languages and express themselves fluently in any of them.

What is multilingualism?

On the other hand, multilingualism defines people who can speak fluently in more than two languages. These people can speak smoothly, and switch from one language to another, when talking to their environment.

There are several places in the world where several languages coexist, so most of the population learns them to express themselves within their environment. Therefore, many people speak two languages fluently from birth and learn others throughout their lives.

If being multilingual has left you amazed, polyglots are able to speak fluently in five or more languages.

Advantages of bilingualism

Here are the advantages of being bilingual and why study Spanish as a second or third language.

Greater cognitive capacity. Bilingualism improves people's cognitive functions, including memory, problem solving and decision-making.

Mental flexibility. Bilingual people tend to be more adaptable and creative as they are used to switching between languages. Perspectives and customs change depending on the place or country where you are, so a bilingual person has more capacity and mental speed to change.

Delaying cognitive decline. Speaking two languages can delay diseases such as Alzheimer's or dementia. Studies confirm that studying a language is a challenge for the mind, therefore, exercising it promotes cognitive decline.

Improves concentration. Bilingual people tend to have a more developed ability to filter out distractions, so they concentrate on specific tasks more easily.

Multitasking skills. Switching between languages trains the brain to handle multiple activities efficiently. Therefore, people who speak more than one language have a greater ability to perform more than one task or activity at the same time.

Better cultural understanding. Being bilingual fosters greater empathy and understanding of different cultures and people. Each language has its origin in a country and each place has its customs, so having lived in another country, understanding the culture will be easier. Although there are bilingual by birth who speak two languages naturally because that is what they have learned at home.

Job opportunities. Speaking more than one language increases access to jobs in international markets and with multilingual requirements. Many companies are now looking for prospective employees who speak more than one language (among the most popular are Spanish, English, Chinese, French or German).

Access to more information. By mastering more than one language, you will be able to consume content in any of them. Searching for information, reading books or news, as well as watching movies and series that have not yet been translated will give you a wide range of sources to consult.

Advantages of being bilingual in Spanish

Many native speakers of English don't want to study another language because with their own language they can understand it anywhere. But did you know that learning Spanish has many advantages? Here are some of the advantages of being bilingual in Spanish:

Large global community. With more than 500 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. Learning it will open doors and opportunities at a social or professional level in Spain, Latin America and other Spanish-speaking regions.

Advantages in the job market. Spanish is one of the most valued languages in sectors such as health care, tourism, education and business, especially in the United States, but also internationally.

Greater cultural connection. Learning Spanish allows for a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures, from literature to cinema, music and gastronomy. You will be able to read in original version great works of authors such as Cervantes, Carmen Laforet, Gabriel García Márquez or Isabel Allende.

Communication skills. With more than 40 million Spanish speakers in the United States, mastering Spanish helps you connect with one of the largest and most diverse communities in the country.

Educational opportunities. Fluency in Spanish gives you access to study programs in Spanish-speaking countries and facilitates your participation in cultural and academic exchanges in countries such as Spain.

More enriching trips. Speaking Spanish makes travel to Spanish-speaking countries more authentic, because you will be less dependent on a translator and will be able to understand the locals and read the signs on your own.

Access to information sources in Spanish. You can enjoy books, series, movies, podcasts and news in their original language. All this will enrich your cultural and linguistic perspective, improve your expressions and understanding of the language.

Ease of learning other languages. Is Spanish easy to learn? Spanish can serve as a basis for learning French, Italian or Portuguese. Since all these languages have similar roots, mastering one will help you learn the others.

Personal growth. It's not all about professional advantages, learning Spanish broadens your thinking, increases your empathy and helps you appreciate the differences and similarities between cultures.

Are you looking forward to it? Take advantage of your time and sign up for an intensive Spanish course to master two languages and become bilingual. You have already seen that there are many advantages and that languages will open doors for you in any field. In this case, Spanish is one of the most demanded languages globally and more and more students are taking on this adventure. Don't wait any longer and learn Spanish with Don Quijote!