There are many benefits to learning Arabic as a second language, but does learning a new language make you smarter? Well, scientists seem to think that it does. So, with that in mind, today let’s look at what happens to your brain when you learn a new language.
Dr. Thomas Bak is a lecturer at Edinburgh’s School of Philosophy, Psychology Sciences. His research into the subject of what happens when you learn new language skills in another language is quite interesting. He found that bilingual teens score higher than their monolingual peers on attention tests, and they focus better, too.
In 1947, Dr. Bak started his research by testing 853 subjects, all of them 11 years old. He tested them again in their early 70s in both 2008 and 2010. What he found was that those who became bilingual in those 60 years performed unexpectedly better. General intelligence and reading were the areas that knowing a second language seem to have the strongest impact. The results also showed that there’s no reason to feel too old to study a language. In fact, learning a new language like Arabic still seems to have positive results no matter your age.
Whether you’re old school or new in Arabic language learning, it will help improve both your cognitive skills and your memory. Indeed, learning Arabic can develop new areas of your brain and strengthen your natural ability to concentrate. So, you’ll not only focus better m but you also won’t be as easily distracted.
Researchers in Sweden conducted another study on two groups of students. One group studied languages and one group studied everything but languages. The study used an MRI to help better show the effects of acquiring a new language on the brain. What they found was remarkable. The brains of those who studied languages actually grew in size; the brains of those who didn’t study languages pretty much stayed the same.
The International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste, Italy, conducted a study on babies that were listening to at least two languages since birth. Agnes Kovacs, who led the 2009 study, found some fascinating conclusion. Result showed that these bilingual babies displayed better cognitive control abilities than babies exposed to just one language.
In the end, all of these studies suggest the bilingualism improves the brain at any age. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start building a bigger brain today!
Want help working out that brain of yours? Then head over to our website and download the Kaleela Arabic Learning and start building a bigger, better brain today (not to mention what learning Arabic will do for the rest of your life). Find out more today by visiting kaleela.com.
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