Don't worry, this isn't the typical "studies have shown it makes you smarter" type of story. On top of using a different part of your brain and getting smarter, the benefits of learning a second language include:
1. It's a Fresh Start. Square one.
If you slacked off in previous years, learning a new language is a clean start. Everything you learned, or were supposed to learn, in previous years are irrelevant to a new language.
2. Travel Opportunities.
Loosing motivation to study for world language class? Look at pictures of places around the world that speak the target language you're learning. My only motivation of getting through 4 years of Spanish is one day being able to study abroad / travel to Puerto Rico, Chile, or Spain. Plus, Saving money by not having to pay a translator
3.College Credit.
Need I say more ? When colleges and future employees see that you are bilingual, it looks good and separates you out from the rest of the crowd. Knowing a language other than English is beneficial for jobs in sales, business, traveling agencies, schools, hotels, airports, public places, the medical fields, and so much more.
4.Holidays in countries that speak your target language are just an excuse to throw a party in class.
Food! Yum.
5.Reading news articles from countries that speak the target language.
Doing this, I was able to get a different perspective of what was going on in the United States and around the world.
6.Learning about other people's culture and language
I consider this similar to art. Beautiful.
7.Discovering new bands and music in the target language.
Enrique Iglesias and David Bísbol, both Spanish singers, help me learn Spanish in an enjoyable manner. Bonus: they are cute.
8.There's something oddly satisfying about swearing at a world language teacher in the language they teach.
9.Mistakes and their translations in English / false cognates make for a nice laugh.
For example, I meant to say I love myself, but I actually said I give myself pleasure. It was pretty funny. I also told my class I was 50 years old, when I was actually 15 years old.
10.Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, English, Gym, Health, Music, and Art each child has from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Any world language is something new and exciting.
11.Feel like a child again!
By learning the alphabet, shapes, colors,fruits, vegetables, body parts and numbers all over, we feel like a child again. Sometimes there's even a nice little song to help teach these things, as four-year-olds are learning the same things. Back to simpler times.
12.There's not a whole ton of notes to be taken.
A lot of Class time is spent reading, watching movies, singing, listing to music, talking, or memorizing words.
13.Oftentimes, there is only one, maybe two, teacher per language.
So, you have the same teacher for a couple classes/ years in a row. You truly get to know the professor, forming a bond. The teacher is no longer just a teacher, but a mentor too. You learn the teaching styles of the teacher and tricks on how to pass their class.
Choosing to take Spanish in seventh grade proved to be one of the best decisions of my life. I just took the AP Spanish exam last week. All I want for Cinco de mayo is a Cinco de mi examen.
