There are many reasons people pick up learning languages. However, did you know language learning as a hobby can positively impact your mental health? I have first-hand experience with this as someone who has been going through his mental health struggles myself.
I wanted to share the top nine ways that language learning can help improve your mental health:
It provides a temporary escape:
I will remember the 2020 COVID lockdown being a very anxious period not knowing what to do as places started locking down I had more time on my hands and so I decided to pick up some new hobbies. One of them just happened to be language learning.
As I sat there with my thoughts, knowing how destructive this could be, I instead put a lot of time and attention into learning Cantonese. Through learning the basics using an app or website, versus watching Cantonese TV or reading Chinese books I’ve realised that this hobby for those who enjoy it allows you to something called the flow state.
During this state is easy to forget about the time and just enjoy the moment and be present in that particular moment.
We all need a temporary escape in life, especially to cope with different stresses or problems. Language learning or other hobbies can be a helpful way to do this.
It helps you connect to others & make new friends:
Whilst learning a language one out of the four main skills of a language: reading, writing, listening and speaking; which is speaking can only really be practised in tandem with another person and so if you get into language learning you will naturally seek other people, other native speakers of that language to practice with.
It is often known that connecting to others in our daily lives can help improve our mental health. Often it is said that in our generation loneliness is one of the biggest issues; an epidemic in our generation.
And it’s often said that loneliness is worse than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day and also can cause several health issues which do include anxiety and depression.
So clearly any way to connect and talk to others is a good thing and language learning provides an outlet for this. Often you become friends with your language exchange partners or people with whom you’re practising your language. Some of my closest friends were made through language exchange.
As a result, you may have more connections and feel less alone making you better equipped to deal with the stresses of life.
Also indirectly having a hobby such as learning languages means that you will have an interesting hobby or skill to talk to others about meaning that you will become a more well-rounded person and also may have more to talk about in everyday conversation meaning that you may find it easier to make friends and form connections.
Language learning provides a skill you can develop or challenge you can accomplish:
Often poor mental health causes people to have a lack of focus and direction in life. However, if we see ourselves improving in some way or form that can be a real encouragement to us. One way this can happen is by seeing ourselves improving through a skill or hobby such as language learning.
Often people set goals and targets in learning their languages. When we meet these targets and goals we can often feel a sense of accomplishment or achievement which could help boost self-esteem and contribute towards good mental health.
Language learning provides a way to build skills and to work towards a better future:
Often if you have been out of work due to poor mental health, or if you spend most of your time watching TV and playing computer games using your free time to build new skills can seem alien to you.
However, learning languages provides an outlet to build new skills and have fun at the same time. For example: if there were two candidates for the same job but would have had the same experience and qualifications and one person was multilingual and the other was monolingual in a lot of cases the person who spoke more languages would get the job; especially in a job or environment where speaking multiple languages can be an asset.
For those people not in work due to poor mental health this hobby provides a way to release stress and to build a valuable skill which may be able to enhance your working life in the future.
For example, see here for career opportunities for those who are passionate about languages.
Learning languages can help with your confidence:
Often as we learn a new language it is certainly the case that you can make a lot of mistakes along the way. Often as an adult, we are not used to making a lot of mistakes. However, this is perfectly normal and natural in learning another language especially when speaking or writing in that language.
As we speak to other people to practice our language skills we are indirectly building our confidence to speak to other people.
For example; if you’re scared of giving speeches yet you can do this in the language that you’re studying imagine how confident you will be to give a speech in your native language now.
Another benefit this could bring is if you’re not afraid of making mistakes from making a lot of mistakes in your journey of learning languages; then you could be more open to trying out new things or ideas that you’ve always wanted to try but never had the confidence for.
Learning languages helps you communicate with the ones you know and love:
Throughout the majority of my life as a British-born Chinese BBC was unable to speak Cantonese or any other Chinese language such as Hakka Chinese and so speaking to my grandma was incredibly difficult because she didn’t speak much English.
So in 2020, I took it upon myself to learn Cantonese. As a result, I am now fluent in Cantonese and now able to have great conversations with my grandma. None of this would have been possible if I didn’t pick up language learning.
And so I pose a question: do you know any friends or family whose mother tongue isn’t English? As the quote goes: “whoever speaks to a man in a language it goes to his head, whoever speaks to a man in his native language goes to his heart”.
I believe this is the case people will appreciate the effort you’ve taken to learn their language and will be enthusiastic about it.
For those of you who don’t people who don’t speak much English, this may be an opportunity to have your very first proper conversation with them in their native language.
Learning languages can help with cultural awareness and empathy:
Often learning a new language can open up a new world to a different culture and different set of people. Often there are differences in culture which is made more obvious by learning the language. For example, in Chinese the equivalent expression of how are you? Is have you eaten dinner yet?
This is because the Chinese when asked how are you assume there is something wrong with your well-being and so ask how are you to ask how you truly are in terms of your well-being.
Having a good awareness of the culture can pay dividends in building bridges between cultures. See here for examples of jobs especially relating to building bridges between cultures.
And also learning another language will open your eyes to realise how hard it is and so you can emphasise more with native speakers of other languages learning English.
Not only this but as you discover more about different cultures and maybe break stereotypes indirectly talked about in your own culture about other cultures, you will gain a greater understanding of yourself and other people that are different to yourself.
Learning languages is an exercise for your brain:
Often in our modern culture is not often more that we exercise our brain in our spare time. Often we enjoy watching TV and playing computer games which can be a good way to unwind but unfortunately doesn’t exercise our brain.
Learning languages has proven to increase the grey matter in the brain which is important for a lot of thinking processes. This means that you will have sharper thinking as a result of using flashcards, remembering new vocabulary and studying new grammar rules and so on.
It is said that language learning can help reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease in your older age.
What you learned during learning languages and the skills you learn can be applied to life:
Often the skills and abilities you hone when learning languages and being successful as a language learner can apply to the real world.
For example, when you learn languages you have to stay consistent and build a good habit of learning languages. As you turn up to learn daily you’re setting yourself up for success in language learning.
This is the same in real life as well; as you develop other skills such as playing a musical instrument or even learning a profession such as accounting when you show up each day to learn more of this skill or habit you are persevering and being diligent and so you are more likely to see success.
Not being afraid of making mistakes in learning languages may mean that the next time you give a speech for your company who have a new sense of confidence and self-esteem due to greater awareness of your native language.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, language learning is very positive for your mental well-being and health in many different areas and many different environments.
As someone myself who struggled with mental health difficulties in the past, I have found that learning languages has made me a stronger person and made me more resilient in the way I handle problems with the transferable skills I gained through learning languages.
Overall, what is your opinion on this topic? Do you agree that language learning can positively impact your mental health? Let me know below, thanks.
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