Languages are fascinating. I wish that I had studied more languages in high school and college. I was fluent in French back then and am studying Spanish now. It really does exercise your brain like doing push-ups and pull-ups for your body.
Yes, they are so fascinating! And idiosyncratic, contradictory, funny, alive, cultural and useful. But appreciating that is also a mindset shift with age, I think. I enjoyed languages way less in high school, also didn't see much use in them.
Oh wow. I only speak 5 languages fluently but this article was really motivational and informative. It really helped give me a clearer perspective on how to improve myself and be more like these amazing people. Thank you for sharing this!
Update (6/9/2020):
Edit:
Side note: I dislike how the article mentions dementia as if it is a normal part of getting old. It isn't. I work as a CNA in a long term care home for people with dementia, and part of our training requires us to be educated about dementia. I also have a degree in psychology (undergrad). Dementia is not a normal part of ageing and should not be treated as such.
“It is not just the amount of time spent learning and using the languages. The quality of the time, in terms of emotional salience, is critical.”
A good reminder. My years of mandatory French at my high school only got consolidated during a number of day trips with French-speaking friends. The mind is most receptive to foreign language when we really need it to express ourselves.
(the title is a bit misleading though; this is more about the cultural/emotional aspect of language learning)
That tough mental workout comes with big payoffs, however; it is arguably the best brain training you can try. Numerous studies have shown that being multilingual can improve attention and memory, and that this can provide a “cognitive reserve” that delays the onset of dementia.
Analogies involving food and physical exercise as a way to promote brain health are becoming increasingly commonplace. I see it everywhere. The future of health and wellness is going to be all about the brain.
Although, we shouldn't go too crazy on the brain workouts. Before my eyes
lies a magazine from the Swedish 911-equivalent with on the cover "tema:
STROKE" (yes, they have a magazine). It has some haunting stories of
midlife strokes caused by a high-stress lifestyle.
Maintaining a working knowledge of 10+ languages sounds stressful to me,
somehow :)
Languages are fascinating. I wish that I had studied more languages in high school and college. I was fluent in French back then and am studying Spanish now. It really does exercise your brain like doing push-ups and pull-ups for your body.
Yes, they are so fascinating! And idiosyncratic, contradictory, funny, alive, cultural and useful. But appreciating that is also a mindset shift with age, I think. I enjoyed languages way less in high school, also didn't see much use in them.
Oh wow. I only speak 5 languages fluently but this article was really motivational and informative. It really helped give me a clearer perspective on how to improve myself and be more like these amazing people. Thank you for sharing this!
Edit: Side note: I dislike how the article mentions dementia as if it is a normal part of getting old. It isn't. I work as a CNA in a long term care home for people with dementia, and part of our training requires us to be educated about dementia. I also have a degree in psychology (undergrad). Dementia is not a normal part of ageing and should not be treated as such.
A good reminder. My years of mandatory French at my high school only got consolidated during a number of day trips with French-speaking friends. The mind is most receptive to foreign language when we really need it to express ourselves.
(the title is a bit misleading though; this is more about the cultural/emotional aspect of language learning)
Great find, Thor. Lots of interesting tidbits.
Analogies involving food and physical exercise as a way to promote brain health are becoming increasingly commonplace. I see it everywhere. The future of health and wellness is going to be all about the brain.
And reading is an important part of that!
Although, we shouldn't go too crazy on the brain workouts. Before my eyes lies a magazine from the Swedish 911-equivalent with on the cover "tema: STROKE" (yes, they have a magazine). It has some haunting stories of midlife strokes caused by a high-stress lifestyle.
Maintaining a working knowledge of 10+ languages sounds stressful to me, somehow :)