Why Bilinguals Are Smarter
Speaking two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. But in recent years, scientists have begun to show that the advantages of bilingualism are even more fundamental than being able to converse with a wider range of people. Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language. Evidence suggests that the bilingual experience improves the brain’s executive function — a command system that directs the attention processes used for planning, solving problems, and performing various other mentally demanding tasks. These processes include ignoring distractions to stay focused, switching attention willfully from one thing to another, holding information in mind, and a heightened ability to monitor the environment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html
Arabic, you crazy!
I would like to stand up for the language nerds and give some reasons for studying Arabic that have nothing to do with politics. The language of the National Designated Other is bound to switch to Chinese in a couple of years, but until colleges start teaching Martian, Arabic is going to remain the strangest, most interesting language you can study in an undergrad classroom. And do not fall for the bait and switch with Chinese or Japanese! They might tempt you with an exotic writing system, but after a few months you find out that the underlying language is pretty vanilla, and meanwhile there is a stack of three thousand flash cards standing in between you and the ability to skim a newspaper. Arabic, on the other hand, twists healthy minds in twelve ways.
Tags
- LOL (175)
- USA (116)
- WTF (85)
- Iran (57)
- Internet (56)
- IranElection (45)
- Capitalism (39)
- Israel (39)
- Human Rights (38)
- Cool (35)
- View all 1959 tags »
