Having a good command of a language is always beneficial. One gets to use big, fancy words which makes them look smart among their peers. People tend to follow orators who use words that move them and cause them to see things from the speaker’s point of view.
Knowing one language very well adds an advantage to someone, but knowing two puts them a cut above the rest.
The Advantages
The job market is very competitive, and so people have to have above average skills to impress recruiters or current bosses. Being bilingual greatly helps with a job application which requires one to know a certain language. A second language can come in handy if you are, for example, a doctor whose native tongue is English and go to work in a country that speaks Amharic. The patients may not be able to expressly explain their ailment in English, but if the doctor understands Amharic, this could help the chances of the patient getting proper treatment.
Studies also prove that being bilingual adds more value to an employee. According to Salary.com, jobs which pay varying rates according to skill, tend to pay bilinguals five to 20% more, than those who only speak one language.
Being bilingual helps greatly in appreciating a different culture. Music, movies and games the locals play, make more sense when one understands the meaning behind them, as well as their history. Most people who enjoy travelling end up paying more for transport and accommodation due to the language factor. They feel safer staying in places where English is spoken. Being bilingual helps, in that one can talk to the locals and find out about cheaper and more beautiful places, which are not always advertised on most websites, in guides or magazines.
Being bilingual also helps one in multitasking. Often a bilingual person has to think about something in their native language, and then translate it into another language in a split second. This skill helps one to think and deal with different things at once effortlessly.
Studies have shown that being bilingual is linked with health benefits. Researchers say that speaking a second language helps slow down the ageing process. Some assume that conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease can be slowed down, stress can be managed better and recovering from a stroke can occur faster. Another advantage of being bilingual is that it will be easier to learn a third language.
