学习外语能给你带来哪些好处？

当你会说不止一种语言时，你看起来更聪明、更有创造性和更有吸引力。我最近发现很多科学说法来解释这种现象：

1. You Develop Better Memory

1.你拥有更好的记忆力

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.

研究人员发现了学习双语对我们大脑有许多积极影响。首先，了解两种语言有助于你有效地处理周围环境的信息，这意味着你学习能力日渐提高。此外，说第二语言的孩子通常比只说一种语言的孩子有更好的记忆力。成年人不要担心!尽管我们的记忆在未成年时发展更多，一旦我们成年可能更难掌握一门新语言，你仍然可以通过学习语言获得很多其他的好处。

2. You Strengthen Your Brain

2.你锻炼了大脑功能

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).

流利的掌握不止一种语言，可以提高大脑操作不同语言系统的功能。从科学的角度来看，不同的语言之间切换触发前额叶皮层外侧的活动(这部分大脑功能有：解决问题、多任务处理、和专注于重要的事情过滤掉无关的信息)。

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.

双语掌握者也更好地关注环境并分析它。这个技能来自能够分辨应该说哪种语言，因此可以在不同的语言之间快速切换。

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

3. 你可以延缓老年痴呆症

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.

根据布莱恩（列克星敦市的肯塔基大学医学院的神经学家），了解两种语言可以降低老年痴呆症的风险并可能推迟老年痴呆症的发生。

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.

当双语老年人进行试验时，研究人员发现他们颜色和形状进行分类时，相比单语言掌握者，他们可以更好的完成任务。他们还通过大脑扫描仪监控大脑运作过程。原来掌握一种语言的人在完成任务时大脑工作更吃力。而双语掌握者的大脑则更有效并且可以相比年轻人。在年轻时保持更多的脑力储备可以帮助你防止阿尔茨海默氏症引起的损失和其他形式的大脑痴呆。

4. You Become Better At Building Relationships With Others

4. 你更善于与他人建立关系

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.

能够使用不同的语言交流更容易创建全球的人际关系赢得他人的关注，除了这个显而易见的原因，背后还有一个更加微妙的影响。

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.

加利福尼亚大学的苏珊在她的报告中指出：“当我们在一定情况下要求改变语言，我们可能有一个强烈的价值观和情感的转变。甚至有一些双语掌握者承认他们有双重人格。”的确，很多双语者承认他们感觉在使用两种不同的语言时，他们的人格也是有差别的。

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.

主要是由于不同的语言影响我们的思维方式，从如何选择词汇来描述我们周围的世界到不同文化给你带来的影响。实际上，这是一件很棒的事情，不同的语言之间切换的能力可以提高理解别人的能力，更善解人意和更好地交流。因此，能大大改善你与他人的关系。

5. You Have More Career Prospects

5. 你有更多的职业前景

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.

在你的简历中写出掌握超过一种语言可以大大提高你的被雇佣的机会。事实上，最近的一项调查证明，相比只掌握一种语言的人，双语掌握者在美国每年多赚至少7.000美元，。原因很简单：双语掌握者数量少，因此每一个掌握双语的人都有一个更高的“价值”。然而，在加拿大(双语国家)，很多人说的两种官方语言：英语和法语。他们往往比单语掌握者多赚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.

你那些可以熟练切换两种语言的朋友似乎有一些特别的地方，对吗?最近的一项国际调查刚刚证实，掌握双语的人相比只掌握一种语言的人显得更有吸引力。来自世界各地的超过79%的受访者同意，一个可以立即切换到第二种语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，有一个发现。只有某些语言有这种神奇的效果。排名前几位语言无可争议：法语、意大利语、西班牙语和英语。

7. You Become a Better Traveler

7.你变成一个更好的旅行者

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.

旅行者和旅游最大的一个区别仅仅是前者能真正的接触当地人并更深层次地了解文化，而后者只是快速和肤浅的享受。说当地语言，至少几句话，将打开更多的门，将帮助您与当地人建立更深的了解。

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.

显然，在外国旅游业变得容易得多。如果你会几个当地的短语，当地人通常会更热情招待你。

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