Editing Foreign language (section)

==Research into foreign-language learning==
{{Main|Second-language acquisition}}

Learning a foreign language provides various benefits, ranging from improving career opportunities to enhancing cognitive abilities.

In 2004, the [[Michel Thomas Language Centre]] in the [[United Kingdom]] conducted a study that found that speaking a second language could increase an average worker's salary by £3000 (€3 300) a year, or £145 000 (€159 000) in a lifetime, and are also more likely to be more successful with the opposite sex.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3966413.stm | title=Languages 'boost work and love' | date=November 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2004-11-01 |title=Life is better for linguists, survey finds |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2004/nov/01/workandcareers.artsandhumanities |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Further results showed that nine out of 10 British companies thought their businesses could benefit from better language skills. Studies show that a bilingual or multilingual person can earn much more than a computer programmer or engineer because they can use their abilities in foreign language to obtain success in a wide range of career paths. In addition, due to the increase in the number of people from different parts of the world, a multilingual person can more easily communicate with prospective customers.

Also in 2004, a study by [[University College London]] (UCL) examined the brains of 105 people who could speak more than one language.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2004-10-13 |title=Learning languages 'boosts brain' |website=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3739690.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2017-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126220802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3739690.stm |archive-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> The study found that people who learned a second language when younger had denser [[grey matter]] than those who learned one later.<ref name=":0" /> Grey matter is an area of the brain where information is most efficiently processed, due to the function of specialized cells called neurons. The researchers concluded that learning a second language changes the structure of the brain and enhances its functionality.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pilcher|first=Helen|date=2004-07-21|title=Grey matter matters for intellect|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040719/full/news040719-11.html|journal=Nature News|pages=news040719–11 |language=en|doi=10.1038/news040719-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217224556/http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040719/full/news040719-11.html|archive-date=2017-02-17|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

A series of experiments on more than 300 people from the U.S. and Korea found that thinking in a second language reduced deep-seated, misleading biases that unduly influence how risks and benefits are perceived.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/04/language-and-bias/|title=Thinking in a Foreign Language Makes Decisions More Rational|last=Keim|first=Brandon|magazine=WIRED|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117001301/https://www.wired.com/2012/04/language-and-bias/|archive-date=2017-11-17}}</ref>

Other research has shown that early exposure to a second language increases [[divergent thinking]] strategies,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Diaz |first=Rafael M. |date=1983-01-01 |title=Chapter 2: Thought and Two Languages: The Impact of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0091732X010001023 |journal=Review of Research in Education |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=23–54 |doi=10.3102/0091732X010001023 |issn=0091-732X |jstor=1167134 |s2cid=143909423 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> which helps not only in language-related tasks, but also in areas such as math. Children who are exposed to a second language early on have different ways of expressing themselves, which helps them better understand that there is more than one way to look at a problem and that there is more than one solution.

Another benefit of learning a foreign language is that it improves one's attention span and ability to multitask. A study by the University of the Potomac found that bilinguals have better control over their attention and can switch between tasks more easily than monolinguals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-05 |title=9 Benefits of Learning a Second Language {{!}} University of the Potomac |url=https://potomac.edu/benefits-of-learning-a-second-language/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> This is because bilinguals have to constantly monitor which language they are using and suppress the interference from the other language. This mental exercise trains their [[executive function]], which is responsible for planning, organizing, [[problem-solving]] and [[decision-making]]. Learning a foreign language also boosts one's creativity, as it exposes them to new ways of expressing ideas and thinking outside the box.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-03-09 |title=12 Awesome Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language |url=https://www.fluentu.com/blog/advantages-of-learning-a-foreign-language/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=FluentU Language Learning |language=en-US}}</ref>

Learning a foreign language also has positive effects on one's first language. According to the [[Cambridge Assessment English]] blog, learning another language helps students improve their literacy skills in their native language, as they become more aware of [[grammar]], [[vocabulary]] and [[sentence structure]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spence |first=Carley |date=2022-04-29 |title=How learning a new language changes your brain {{!}} Cambridge English |url=https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2022/04/29/learning-language-changes-your-brain/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=World of Better Learning {{!}} Cambridge University Press |language=en-US}}</ref> Learning a foreign language also enhances one's understanding of other [[culture]]s and perspectives, as they can access more information and entertainment sources in different languages and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. This can foster [[empathy]], tolerance and respect for others.

In summary, learning a foreign language is not only useful for practical purposes, but also beneficial for cognitive, social and personal development. It can improve one's brain power, memory, concentration, creativity, communication skills and cultural awareness. It can also open up new opportunities for education, work and travel. Therefore, learning a foreign language is a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to enrich their lives and broaden their horizons.