學習外語能給你帶來哪些好處？

當你會說不止一種語言時，你看起來更聰明、更有創造性和更有吸引力。我最近發現很多科學說法來解釋這種現象：

1. You Develop Better MeMory

1.你擁有更好的記憶力

Researchers have found numerous positive impacts that being bilinguAl has on our brain. First of all, knowing two languages helps you process information about the surrounding environment more effectively, meaning you become a faster learner. Next, children who speak a second language typically have much better working memories, compared to monolingual peers. Adults, fret not! Though our working memories are developed early in life and it may be harder to master a new language once we’re grown-up, you can still reap the positive benefits.

研究人員發現了學習雙語對我們大腦有許多積極影響。首先，瞭解兩種語言有助於你有效地處理周圍環境的信息，這意味着你學習能力日漸提高。此外，說第二語言的孩子通常比只說一種語言的孩子有更好的記憶力。成年人不要擔心!儘管我們的記憶在未成年時發展更多，一旦我們成年可能更難掌握一門新語言，你仍然可以通過學習語言獲得很多其他的好處。

2. You Strengthen Your Brain

2.你鍛鍊了大腦功能

Being fluent in more than one language improves your brain’s functionality by challenging it to operate within different language systems. From a scientific standpoint, switching between different languages triggers the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving, multi-tasking, and focusing on important things while filtering out irrelevant information).

流利的掌握不止一種語言，可以提高大腦操作不同語言系統的功能。從科學的角度來看，不同的語言之間切換觸發前額葉皮層外側的活動(這部分大腦功能有：解決問題、多任務處理、和專注於重要的事情過濾掉無關的信息)。

Bilingual people are also better at paying attention to their environment and analyzing it. This skill comes from being able to tell which language is spoken, so that one can quickly switch between different languages.

雙語掌握者也更好地關注環境並分析它。這個技能來自能夠分辨應該說哪種語言，因此可以在不同的語言之間快速切換。

3. You Stave Off Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease For a Few Years

3. 你可以延緩老年癡呆症

According to Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, knowing two languages can reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s and postpone dementia.

根據布萊恩（列剋星敦市的肯塔基大學醫學院的神經學家），瞭解兩種語言可以降低老年癡呆症的風險並可能推遲老年癡呆症的發生。

When conducting a test with bilingual seniors, researchers discovered they were better at tasks that required them to sort out colors and shapes, when compared to monolingual peers. They also monitored the processes happening inside their brains with a scanner. It turned out that the brains of a monolingual worked much harder to accomplish the task, while the bilingual’s brains were more efficient and could be compared to those of young adults. Having more reserve of brain power when you age can help you stay protected against the losses caused by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

當雙語老年人進行試驗時，研究人員發現他們顏色和形狀進行分類時，相比單語言掌握者，他們可以更好的完成任務。他們還通過大腦掃描儀監控大腦運作過程。原來掌握一種語言的人在完成任務時大腦工作更吃力。而雙語掌握者的大腦則更有效並且可以相比年輕人。在年輕時保持更多的腦力儲備可以幫助你防止阿爾茨海默氏症引起的損失和其他形式的大腦癡呆。

4. You Become Better At Building Relationships With Others

4. 你更善於與他人建立關係

Apart from the obvious fact that being capable of conversing in different languages makes it easier to create social ties with people around the globe and win attraction more easily, there’s also a more subtle level of impact behind that.

能夠使用不同的語言交流更容易創建全球的人際關係贏得他人的關注，除了這個顯而易見的原因，背後還有一個更加微妙的影響。

Susan Ervin-Tripp from the University of California noted in her report, “When we are in situations demanding a change in language, we may have a strong sense of a shift in values and feelings. Some bilinguals even report they have two personalities.” Indeed, a lot of bilinguals admit they feel like having two different personalities for operating one or another language.

加利福尼亞大學的蘇珊在她的報告中指出：“當我們在一定情況下要求改變語言，我們可能有一個強烈的價值觀和情感的轉變。甚至有一些雙語掌握者承認他們有雙重人格。”的確，很多雙語者承認他們感覺在使用兩種不同的語言時，他們的人格也是有差別的。

Mainly, this is due to the fact that different languages influence the way we think, from how we choose the vocabulary to describe the world around us to getting influenced by the different cultures you are operating in. Actually, that’s a great thing, as the ability to switch between different languages improves your ability to understand others, be more empathetic, and communicate better; therefore, drastically improving your relationships with others.

主要是由於不同的語言影響我們的思維方式，從如何選擇詞彙來描述我們周圍的世界到不同文化給你帶來的影響。實際上，這是一件很棒的事情，不同的語言之間切換的能力可以提高理解別人的能力，更善解人意和更好地交流。因此，能大大改善你與他人的關係。

5. You Have More Career Prospects

5. 你有更多的職業前景

Having more than one language in your resume can drastically improve your chances of getting hired. In fact, a recent survey proved that bilinguals in the US also tend to earn at least $7.000 more annually compared to monolingual peers with the same kind of work experience. The reason is simple: there are fewer bilinguals to choose from, hence each one has a higher “value”. However, in Canada (a bilingual country), many people speak the two official languages of English and French. They tend to earn 7-8% more than monolingual counterparts.

在你的簡歷中寫出掌握超過一種語言可以大大提高你的被僱傭的機會。事實上，最近的一項調查證明，相比只掌握一種語言的人，雙語掌握者在美國每年多賺至少7.000美元，。原因很簡單：雙語掌握者數量少，因此每一個掌握雙語的人都有一個更高的“價值”。然而，在加拿大(雙語國家)，很多人說的兩種官方語言：英語和法語。他們往往比單語掌握者多賺7 - 8%。

6. You Seem To Appear More Attractive

6. 你更有吸引力

There’s something special about your friend who’s capable of switching between languages, right? Well, a recent international survey has just confirmed that bilingual people tend to appear more attractive compared to monolinguals. Over 79% of survey respondents from around the globe agreed that a person speaking a second language instantly seems more appealing.

你那些可以熟練切換兩種語言的朋友似乎有一些特別的地方，對嗎?最近的一項國際調查剛剛證實，掌握雙語的人相比只掌握一種語言的人顯得更有吸引力。來自世界各地的超過79%的受訪者同意，一個可以立即切換到第二種語言的人似乎更有吸引力。

However, there’s a catch. Only certain languages cast this magical effect. The languages on top of this list are no surprise: French, Italian, Spanish, and English.

然而，有一個發現。只有某些語言有這種神奇的效果。排名前幾位語言無可爭議：法語、意大利語、西班牙語和英語。

7. You Become a Better Traveler

7.你變成一個更好的旅行者

One of the biggest differences between a traveler and a mere tourist is that the first one is capable of making genuine connections with the locals and getting to know the culture deeper, while the second one simply enjoys a quick and superficial familiarity. Speaking the local language, at least just a few words, will open more doors to you and will help you connect to the locals on a new level.

旅行者和旅遊最大的一個區別僅僅是前者能真正的接觸當地人並更深層次地瞭解文化，而後者只是快速和膚淺的享受。說當地語言，至少幾句話，將打開更多的門，將幫助您與當地人建立更深的瞭解。

Obviously, navigating around a foreign land gets much easier. The locals will often make an additional effort for you if you manage to crunch just a few local phrases.

顯然，在外國旅遊業變得容易得多。如果你會幾個當地的短語，當地人通常會更熱情招待你。

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