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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Madeleine Aggeler

Don’t stop at Duolingo, set realistic goals, balance skills: how to start learning a new language

four images showing lips speaking, a person's ear, desks and a disco ball alongside various languages
Learning a new language not only makes you look cool – it also allows you to familiarize yourself with another culture, connect with new people and enjoy a wider variety of art and media. Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian

If there’s one thing guaranteed to make a pop-culture character look cool and sophisticated, it’s being multilingual. Think James Bond, Yasmin from Industry or Scrooge McDuck.

Learning a new language not only makes you look cool – it also allows you to familiarize yourself with another culture, connect with new people and enjoy a wider variety of art and media. And it’s good for your brain. Studies have shown that learning a new language is associated with improved concentration, stronger communication skills, a more powerful memory and greater creativity.

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