Research shows that there is a direct correlation between bilingualism and intelligence, memory skills, and high academic achievement. As the brain processes information more efficiently, it will be able to prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Most difficult languages
The US Department of State Foreign Service Institute (FSI) categorizes languages into four levels of difficulty for native English speakers. Group 1, the simplest, includes French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Swahili. According to FSI research, it takes about 1 hours of practice to achieve basic fluency in all Group 480 languages. It takes 2 hours to achieve the same level of proficiency in Group 720 languages (Bulgarian, Burmese, Greek, Hindi, Persian and Urdu). Things are more complicated with Amharic, Cambodian, Czech, Finnish, Hebrew, Icelandic and Russian – they will require 1100 hours of practice. Group 4 consists of the most difficult languages for native English speakers: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean – it will take 2200 hours for a native English speaker to achieve basic fluency.
Despite the time investment, experts believe that a second language is worth learning, at least for the cognitive benefits. “It develops our executive functions, the ability to keep information in mind and weed out irrelevant information. It’s called executive functions because of the similarity to the skills of a CEO: managing a bunch of people, juggling a lot of information, and multitasking,” says Julie Fieze, professor of neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh.
The bilingual brain relies on executive functions — such as inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility — to maintain balance between two languages, according to a Northwestern University study. Since both language systems are always active and competing, the brain’s control mechanisms are constantly being strengthened.
Lisa Meneghetti, a data analyst from Italy, is a hyperpolyglot, meaning she is fluent in six or more languages. In her case, English, French, Swedish, Spanish, Russian and Italian. When moving to a new language, especially one with a lower complexity that requires less cognitive endurance, her main task is to avoid mixing words. “It’s normal for the brain to switch and use patterns. This happens more often with languages that belong to the same family because the similarities are too great,” she says. The best way to avoid this problem, says Meneghetti, is to learn one language at a time and differentiate between language families.
Regular hour
Learning the basics of any language is a quick task. Online programs and apps will help you learn a few greetings and simple phrases at lightning speed. For a more personal experience, polyglot Timothy Doner recommends reading and watching material that piques your interest.
“If you like cooking, buy a cookbook in a foreign language. If you like football, try watching a foreign game. Even if you only pick up a few words a day and the vast majority still sound like gibberish, they will still be easier to remember later,” he says.
It is important to understand exactly how you plan to use the language in the future. Once your intentions for a new language have been determined, you can start planning your daily practice hourly schedule that includes several learning methods.
There are many tips on how to learn a language better. But all experts are sure of one thing: move away from studying books and videos and devote at least half an hour to speaking practice with a native speaker, or with a person who is fluent in the language. “Some learn the language by trying to memorize words and practice pronunciation alone, in silence, and for themselves. They don’t really progress, it won’t help them practically use the language,” says Fieze.
As with mastering a musical instrument, it is better to study a language for a short amount of time, but regularly, than rarely, but for a long time. Without regular practice, the brain does not trigger deep cognitive processes and does not establish a connection between new knowledge and previous learning. Therefore, an hour a day, five days a week, will be more useful than a five-hour forced march once a week. According to the FSI, it takes 1 weeks or almost two years to achieve basic fluency in a Group 96 language.
IQ и EQ
“Learning a second language will also help you become a more understanding and empathetic person, opening doors to a different way of thinking and feeling. It’s about IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence) combined,” says Meneghetti.
Communicating in other languages helps develop the skill of “intercultural competence”. According to Baker, intercultural competence is the ability to build successful relationships with a wide variety of people from other cultures.
One hour a day of learning a new language can be seen as a practice of overcoming alienation between people and cultures. The result will be enhanced communication skills that will bring you closer to people at work, at home or abroad. “When you encounter a different worldview, someone from a different culture, you stop judging others and become more effective at resolving conflicts,” Baker says.