Susie Sample

TESOL 102

Louis Gamur

April 17, 2018

Benefits of Language Learning Outline

Use this outline to write your paper. Change your name and delete these instructions
before you turn in your paper.

COPY AND PASTE WHAT IS HERE INTO YOUR OWN WORD DOCUMENT OR
GOOGLE DOC

Each benefit should be written similarly to #1 here. The first one is done for you.

Now do 9 more like this.

You are welcome to do additional research outside of the sources listed in the
course. However, they need to be reputable sources from scholarly journals. BYU-I
Librarians are good resources to find more on this topic.

YOU MUST CITE EVERY source you use.

You are welcome to use a resource like citation machine to help format your citation.

Benefit #1 : Language learning helps you to become a more rational thinker. In a

language study, students were asked a hypothetical question involving saving lives or
loosing lives in both English and Japanese. When the same question that was first posed in
English was posed in Japanese the students chose the less risky option to save more lives. As
Keim (2012) states, " When considering the same situation in Japanese, however, the safe-
option number hovered around 40 percent, regardless of how choices were framed. The role
of instinct appeared reduced." This means that students chose to make less risky decisions
when questions were asked in their non-native tongue of English. I think this is a powerful
benefit because thinking more slowly and rationally generally leads to better decisions.
“Thinking in a Foreign Language Makes Decisions More Rational.” Wired. 24 Apr 2012.
www.wired.com/2012/04/language-and-bias/. Accessed 25 Sep 2019.

Holz, R. L. (2012, April 12). The Bilingual Brain is Sharper and More Focused
Study Says. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-HEB-49245
 1. Cognitive Development: Learning languages improves cognitive abilities, such as
problem-solving, critical thinking, and multitasking skills. According to a study by
Bialystok (2009), bilingualism enhances cognitive flexibility and attention control.
2. Improved Memory: Language learning enhances memory capacity and retention.
Research by Bak et al. (2014) suggests that bilingual individuals have better memory
performance and sometimes do better in schools compared to monolinguals.
3. Enhanced Communication Skills: Learning languages improves communication
skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It enables individuals to
effectively interact with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds (Wired, 2012).
4. Cultural Understanding: Language learning promotes cultural awareness and
understanding. It allows individuals to appreciate different perspectives, traditions,
and customs (Huffington Post, 2013).
5. Career Opportunities: Being multilingual opens up a wide range of career
opportunities. Employers value language skills as they facilitate international business
relations and enhance global market competitiveness (ACTFL, n.d.).
6. Increased Empathy: Learning languages fosters empathy and understanding towards
others. It enables individuals to connect with people from different linguistic
backgrounds and develop a sense of empathy and tolerance (ScienceDaily, 2009).
7. Improved Academic Performance: Language learning positively impacts academic
performance. Bilingual children tend to have better problem-solving skills, higher test
scores, and improved overall academic achievement (Cornell University, 2011).
8. Enhanced Travel Experience: Knowing the local language enhances travel
experiences by enabling individuals to communicate with locals, navigate unfamiliar
places, and immerse themselves in the local culture (Livescience, 2012).
9. Brain Health: Language learning has been linked to improved brain health and
reduced risk of cognitive decline. According to Medical Daily (2015), learning a new
language helps maintain brain plasticity and delays the onset of age-related cognitive
disorders.
10. Personal Growth: Learning languages promotes personal growth and self-
confidence. It challenges individuals to step out of their comfort zones, develop
resilience, and embrace new perspectives (Language Learning, 2012).
By exploring these ten distinct benefits of learning languages, individuals can gain a deeper
understanding of the advantages that language acquisition offers in various aspects of life.