Skip to main content
Skip to main menu Skip to spotlight region Skip to secondary region Skip to UGA region Skip to Tertiary region Skip to Quaternary region Skip to unit footer

Slideshow

The Benefits of Being Bilingual

From cross-cultural and social adaptability to increased intelligence, cognition and empathy, there are a number of ways to approach the myriad benefits of knowing multiple languages. Included among these, brain fitness:

Multilingualism has been shown to have many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages. Moreover, researchers are finding a swathe of health benefits from speaking more than one language, including faster stroke recovery and delayed onset of dementia.

Could it be that the human brain evolved to be multilingual – that those who speak only one language are not exploiting their full potential? And in a world that is losing languages faster than ever – at the current rate of one a fortnight, half our languages will be extinct by the end of the century – what will happen if the current rich diversity of languages disappears and most of us end up speaking only one?

You can learn a second langauge for yourself, for others, for your career and for your health - and even all four at once, it's all-inclusive! The article presents a terrific digression on the subject, and we seldom discuss the limitations of being monolingual. But it can be a real handicap for people who want to operate in the wider world. That's one reason our language offerings at the university are such a treasure - or the keys to greater treasures - and such a missed opportunity if students don't take advantage of them. There are no professional fields in which knowing a second language won't make you a better _____. They don't exist. Plus, our professions are not the only way we identify ourselves: we are humans, who care about and need to understand other humans, for all our mutual benefit yes, but also just to [intrepidly, effectively, sensitively, safely] make our way. Your life can be a wonderful concert, and you should be ready to enjoy the music. And to really have a great time at the show, always get the all-access pass.

Support Franklin College

We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click here to learn more about giving.