What would you say if I told you that 60% of the world's population possess a skill which allows them to have better : communication, creativity and problem solving skills, while enhancing career opportunities, and decreasing the likelihood of developing dementia?

All of these attributes are achieved through learning another language, a skill which around 20% of children in the UK have.

Learning a language is incredible from all perspectives, to fully be able to understand those around you it is important to be able to communicate, obviously, however in terms of English literature, poetry and even humour much of the meaning is lost when translated.

 As for certain words or phrases there is really no direct translation or equivalent, making a second language a key to understanding different cultures on a deeper level.

In 2023, Duolingo, one of the most popular language-learning apps reported that more than 23 billion duolingo lessons were completed and nearly 1.5 billion hours were spent by users learning new languages on duolingo, showing the importance of language learning globally. 

When asked why she felt learning new languages was so beneficial, Romy Sigusch, head of MFL at Croydon High School answered, “It broadens your mind in many ways: culturally, grammatically and linguistically. I also believe it makes your brain work faster because the more languages you know the more your synapses work , having to jump from one language to another and so your synapses become able to work faster, and  so it has a direct impact on other areas of life, not just language, for example maths or revising other subjects.”

In terms of a physical change in someone after learning a language, brain scans comparing the brain of someone who is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish, and the brain of someone who is monolingual, only speaking English, show that the grey and white matter volume in your brain - responsible for better emotional regulation and control of memory as well as allowing messages to travel fast and efficiently across networks of nerves and to the brain is much greater in a bilingual brain than a monolingual one.

I feel it is important to note that research also shows even if you do not achieve fluency in another language, the white and grey matter volume in your brain will still increase, although not to the same extent, meaning that by just beginning to learn a new language, you will be helping your brain to develop and change for the better, due to the advanced ability of focus, fast responses and building confidence, proving invaluable for everyday life.

Another reason why learning a language is invaluable is the opportunities it offers.

Having the ability to understand multiple languages means that job opportunities are vast, being bilingual is more than just a competitive advantage- it can be a game-changer.

From translation and teaching to international business and travel blogging, the career opportunities for multilingual individuals are vast and varied.

In an increasingly globalised economy, employers value employees who can communicate across cultures and languages.

To me the effort and time that is put into learning a language is made up for greatly just by what you can achieve and your increased everyday advantages.

The fact that duolingo and other language apps are free, is an incredible opportunity.

Meaning that learning a language is available to everyone, something which I feel is important as it offers many the chance to learn a language from their own home.

 To conclude, I would suggest that everyone should at least attempt to learn a new language.

The skills, attributes and knowledge that can be gained, is without a doubt significant and in many ways a variety of attributes that would be very difficult to achieve elsewhere.