Growing up, my dad would always tell me "el que habla dos lenguas vale por dos," which roughly translates to "he who speaks two languages is worth two." I am extremely thankful to have the benefit of being fluent in both English and Spanish. While some of us are born with the benefit of being born into families that speak another language, it is worth it to put work into taking some classes in another language to experience all the benefits that come with being bilingual. Below are 10 perks of being bilingual I know to be true by experience.
1. Double the opportunities!
With the academic and career world getting more and more competitive, knowing more than one language can allow you to make more diverse connections and give you an advantage over other applicants while applying for a job or college.
2. Double the music
Music is a beautiful thing and, nothing against music in English, but music in other languages is a totally different experience. Even if you don't know the language, it is a wonderful experience to listen to another culture's music, but actually understanding the lyrics allows you to feel the music on a deeper level.
3. Being able to help people by translating
Most of us have been in situations where people do not understand the cashier or can't order food due to a language barrier. It is one of the best feelings being able to translate and help facilitate daily activities for someone who doesn't know English.
4. Knowing when someone is talking about you
This works especially well when your appearance doesn't stereotypically match the language you speak. We can hear you!
5. Makes you more culturally sensitive
Knowing another language isn't only about linguistics. Knowing another language opens the door to an entire culture, their foods, traditions, and beliefs. Having a close link with another culture is a lovely experience!
6. More movies/shows to be exposed to
Knowing a second language opens the door to different genres! When you have finished "Breaking Bad" and "Pretty Little Liars" and feel like you need more drama in your life, give Bollywood movies, novelas, or Ethiopian dramas a try. If you like them, make it a goal to watch it one day without the subtitles!
7. Understand inside jokes
Jokes aren't something you can simply translate and get the same result, expand your sense of humor!
8. Makes it easier and more enjoyable to travel
I know I feel more open to the idea of traveling to Spain, Central America, and South America because I know the language. Knowing another language opens the door to traveling to other places with the security of knowing you will be able to communicate comfortably.
9. Make more friends and stay close to your family
Because the United States is a melting pot of many cultures, knowing only English can limit the amount of people you form bonds with. By knowing another language you can find that those people that only speak their native language are great people. If your second language is your "native" tongue, by keeping your language you will be able to have great conversations with your grandparents!
10. It sets you apart and makes you unique:
According to a poll by Gallup, only 26 percent of the American population speaks another language fluently enough to hold a conversation. If you're bilingual, you're already set apart from roughly 75 percent of the population!
