Being able to communicate with people all over the world opens up the possibilities of engaging in new activities, experiencing new cultures, reading new literature, and viewing new types of media. A life that is enriched by the perspectives of other cultures and other societies can be opened up to us through our capacity to speak the same language.
Learning a language takes hard work and commitment. In many countries, learning two, three, or even four languages is commonplace, and is done from a young age. It's seen as a normal part of a good education. For others, this is not the case and becoming bilingual or multilingual is a conscious choice made later in life. Fluency in language indicates to others that we are prepared to do this work for their sake. Language fluency relies upon mastering four foundations: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. All of these require different learning techniques and the dedication of specific time towards them. Our progress can be measured daily through the satisfaction we feel when we can read a new text, listen to a new podcast, and talk to a new person.
The rewards for our dedication can be delightful as well as practical. Possessing language skills, therefore, opens doors for us and connects us to people all over the globe. This, of itself, increases the likelihood of engaging positively with the global community. After all, having learned the language, we're going to want to put it to good use. And we are less likely to be disparaging to others who we can now understand more clearly and with whom we can communicate better. Learning a second language and regularly practising it is also beneficial to our executive function more broadly.