Making the decision to learn a new language is an exciting step toward self-improvement, intellectual enrichment and better health. Learning a foreign language contributes to improved health by stimulating brain function to increase cognitive activity and alertness. The brain is just like any muscle, it requires continuous exercise and strengthening to remain strong, flexible and active. Learning a foreign language is an engaging and challenging mental activity that promotes continued learning, reading and language development to support strong cognitive function as a person ages.
So, now that we know language learning is healthy, builds brain power and helps us defeat the rigors of aging, what’s stopping you?
In my case, it’s the confusion about what language to learn. If you grew up in an American school at some time during the last 60 years you have been encouraged and been given opportunities to learn Spanish, French and German. Are you surprised to know that educators and American schools got it wrong?
Ethnologue’s 2005 research and information published by Microsoft Encarta in 2006 identifies Mandarin Chinese as the first language of the world. These numbers mean that more than 900 million people speak Mandarin Chinese as their first or second language. Mandarin Chinese speakers outnumber English speakers by more than 495 million first language speakers and 350 million second language speakers. Spanish is the world’s second most popular spoken language for first and second language learners and English ranks third.
In Late 2009 the Internet World Stats were published by Miniwatts Marketing Group, which reported English as the most widely used language on the internet. However, Arabic, Chinese and Russian speakers have experienced significant growth in internet language use of more than 1,000 % over the past decade.
The Foreign Service Institute of the United States Department of State identified Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Korean as the most difficult languages for English speaking natives to learn. In some cases this is due to the very different grammatical structure of the language (Arabic) and the use of characters to represent words rather than a specific alphabet (Mandarin Chinese). Dialectal differentiation of language use also makes language learning unique and many times challenging in regards to language instruction.
American K-12 public schools and universities are diligently refocusing language learning to implement Mandarin Chinese and Modern Standard Arabic language instruction using both classroom based models and virtual instruction. At this time Mandarin Chinese language programs are expanding faster than Arabic and educational institutions are identifying the resources necessary to sustain programs.
There is no time like the present to begin enriching your life by learning a new language. Arabic speakers recommend ArabicPod101.com for a free introduction to Arabic. Another interesting and free website is www.livemocha.com. This is a social language learning site that provides excellent instruction with an opportunity to connect with native speakers.
Best of Wishes & Enjoy!
