In full disclosure, I am a staunch advocate of learning a foreign language. The topic of foreign language learning, immersion teaching in particular, has long been very fascinating to me. As someone who has studied and worked abroad, I greatly understand the practical benefits of knowing a second language but what has escaped my radar until recently are the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Ch. 8 in the Lilienfeld text dabbled into these cognitive benefits. For a more robust understanding, check out this NYT article.
For sake of brevity, here are a few reasons from Lilienfeld and the NYT article why exposure to a second language before & after the critical period for language acquisition is so dang important:
1. Heightened metalinguistic insight -- this insight will be a friend that keeps on giving. You may think you know English now but it's amazing how much we don't know about the structure of our own language. Learning a second language has actually helped me better understand the finer details of my own native language.
2. Improvement of executive functions in the brain -- this includes planning, problem solving, and performing other mentally demanding tasks.
3. Brain efficiency -- executing demanding tasks uses less activity in the associated parts of the brain for bilinguals.
4. Increased resistance to dementia and Alzheimer's Disease -- a study found that the higher the degree of bilingualism, the later the onset of symptoms.
So here's my question: Why on Earth do American schools, with the exception of immersion, start incorporating foreign language education AFTER the critical period of language acquisition? It's clear that American students are having a harder time competing on a global scale with others. Wouldn't this be a step in the right direction?
Critical period of language acquisition aside, it never hurts to learn a new language. Do these proven practical and cognitive benefits motivate you to pursue learning a foreign language? Can you think of other benefits, besides the ones listed above, to learn a new language?
I am from India so I have been bilingual ever since I started school. Our first language in school was English but my second language was my mother tongue and that is the language we speak at home and with friends from the same state. Of course, I didn't realize that being bilingual has benefits till I read it in the textbook. But yes, there are some phonemes in my native language that are not in English. Also, Americans have been only close with pronouncing my first name in the way that people from my country would call it and my last name is a mystery to everyone outside India!!!
I did study French in my high school but forgot it due to lack of practice. I know to speak/understand few other languages from India. Now it makes me think that may be bilingualism at the early age helped this process. I would definitely recommend learning a second language. You will be surprised even learning the phonemes - the basic element of the language. Good luck!