Do you speak Spanish? French? Chinese? If you answered “sí,” “oui,” or “会” and you’re reading this in English, you are part of the world’s bilingual and multilingual majority. Beyond the obvious perks of easier travel and enjoying movies without subtitles, being bilingual or multilingual can significantly alter the way your brain functions compared to your monolingual peers.
Language proficiency is typically assessed through two active skills—speaking and writing—and two passive skills—listening and reading. While a balanced bilingual has nearly equal abilities in both languages, most bilinguals use their languages in varying proportions. Depending on their circumstances and how they acquired each language, bilinguals can be categorized into three types.
Consider Gabriella, whose family moved from Peru to the US when she was two. As a compound bilingual, she developed two linguistic codes simultaneously, learning both English and Spanish as she grew. Her teenage brother might be a coordinate bilingual, learning English at school while speaking Spanish at home. Meanwhile, Gabriella’s parents are likely subordinate bilinguals, learning English by filtering it through their primary language, Spanish.
Recent advances in brain imaging have provided insights into how language learning affects the bilingual brain. The brain’s left hemisphere is generally more analytical, while the right is more emotional and social. This division is not absolute but rather a matter of degree. Language involves both types of functions, and lateralization—the specialization of brain hemispheres—develops with age, leading to the critical period hypothesis.
This theory suggests that children learn languages more easily due to the plasticity of their developing brains, which allows them to use both hemispheres. In contrast, adults typically lateralize language to one hemisphere, usually the left. Learning a language in childhood might offer a more holistic understanding of its social and emotional contexts. Conversely, adults who learn a second language may approach problems more rationally in that language than in their native one.
Regardless of when you acquire additional languages, being multilingual offers significant cognitive benefits. These include a higher density of grey matter, which contains most of the brain’s neurons and synapses, and increased activity in certain regions when using a second language. The continuous mental exercise of a bilingual brain can delay the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia by up to five years.
While the cognitive benefits of bilingualism may seem intuitive today, earlier experts viewed it as a handicap. Before the 1960s, bilingualism was thought to slow a child’s development by requiring them to distinguish between languages. This view was based on flawed studies. More recent research shows that while reaction times and errors may increase in cross-language tests, the effort required to switch languages strengthens the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for executive function, problem-solving, and task-switching.
While bilingualism may not necessarily make you smarter, it certainly makes your brain healthier, more complex, and actively engaged. Even if you didn’t learn a second language as a child, it’s never too late to start. Embrace the linguistic leap from “Hello” to “Hola,” “Bonjour,” or “你好,” because when it comes to our brains, a little exercise can go a long way.
Pair up with a classmate and choose a scenario (e.g., ordering food at a restaurant, asking for directions). One of you will play the role of a native speaker, while the other will be a learner of the language. Switch roles and languages if possible. This activity will help you practice both active skills (speaking and writing) and passive skills (listening and reading).
Create a diagram of the brain and label the areas involved in language processing. Use different colors to indicate the left hemisphere (analytical functions) and the right hemisphere (emotional and social functions). Research and add notes on how these areas are activated differently in bilinguals compared to monolinguals.
Interview a bilingual or multilingual person about their language learning journey. Ask about their experiences, challenges, and the cognitive benefits they have noticed. Present your findings to the class, highlighting how their experiences align with the concepts discussed in the article.
Divide into two groups and debate the critical period hypothesis. One group will argue that children have a significant advantage in language learning due to brain plasticity, while the other group will argue that adults can also achieve high proficiency with different cognitive strategies. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Conduct a research project on the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Investigate how bilingualism affects grey matter density, brain activity, and the delay of neurodegenerative diseases. Present your findings in a multimedia format, such as a video, infographic, or slideshow, to make the information engaging and accessible.
Bilingual – Having the ability to speak and understand two languages fluently. – Maria is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish with ease.
Multilingual – Having the ability to speak and understand more than two languages. – Being multilingual, Alex can communicate in French, German, and Italian.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country. – Language is a powerful tool for expressing thoughts and emotions.
Proficiency – The ability to do something very well; expertise. – Her proficiency in French allowed her to work as a translator in Paris.
Brain – The organ in the head that controls thought, memory, and emotion. – The brain is responsible for processing all the information we receive from our senses.
Cognitive – Related to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning. – Cognitive development is crucial during the early years of a child’s life.
Neurons – Nerve cells in the brain that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. – Neurons play a vital role in how we think, learn, and remember.
Development – The process of growth or improvement, particularly in skills or abilities. – Language development is an important part of a child’s education.
Executive – Relating to the ability to manage or control actions and thoughts, often associated with decision-making. – Executive functions are essential for planning and organizing tasks effectively.
Function – The natural purpose or activity of something, especially in the context of mental processes. – The primary function of language is to facilitate communication between individuals.
