Questão de Língua Inglesa

T E X T 2 How learning a new language changes your brain 73 People learn a new language for all sorts of reasons – to 74 work or study in another country, move abroad, or simply 75 for pleasure. No matter the motivation, many students 76 find that the experience of studying a new language 77 enriches their lives. But did you also know a language 78 changes your brain at a physical level? 79 Numerous studies have examined how learning a new 80 language at different ages can make a difference to the 81 way your brain works. Let’s take a look at how learning a 82 second language affects your brain. 83 A neurological perspective on language learning 84 Bilingual people, who have learned two languages side by 85 side from early childhood, have been studied by scientists 86 for decades. They are keen to understand how speaking 87 two languages fluently affects people on a cognitive level. 88 And with the advent of MRI technology, researchers are 89 now able to see on a very visual level the differences 90 between monolingual brains and bilingual brains. 91 Everyone’s brain is made up of neurons, which have a cell 92 body, and dendrites, which are the connections between 93 neurons. This is what we call “grey matter.” 94 Bilingual people have more of these neurons and 95 dendrites compared to people who speak only one 96 language. This means that their grey matter is denser. 97 Bilingualism also has an impact on white matter – that is, 98 a system of nerve fibres which connect all four lobes of 99 the brain. This system coordinates communication 100 between the different brain regions, helping your brain to 101 learn and function. 102 Bilingual adults have increased white matter 103 integrity compared to adults who only speak one 104 language. Their second language experience actually 105 boosts their brain’s reserves. 106 What about people who learn a language later on? 107 Students who are learning a second language later in life 108 can still benefit from some of the neurological changes 109 that happen to speakers of second languages, no matter Página 9 110 what level they are at. Having new experiences (novelty) 111 is an important factor in forming new connections in the 112 brain and strengthening nervous system links. These links 113 and connections are maintained through regular 114 practice. 115 Through the study of a new language, students learn new 116 words and grammatical constructs and build on their 117 previous knowledge as part of the learning process. This 118 combination is one of the reasons that language learning 119 is such an effective brain workout and protects older 120 learners against dementia and other degenerative 121 neurological conditions. 122 But everyone can benefit from language learning. 123 Language learning is arguably one of the most complex 124 mental activities you can do. So, it’s a powerful way to 125 exercise your brain. 126 How language learning boosts other skills 127 Given the measurable impact of language learning on the 128 brain, it’s no surprise that these physical changes are 129 accompanied by the improvement of certain other skills 130 such as communication, creativity, recall and 131 concentration. 132 1. Better academic performance 133 When researchers analyzed 20 studies on language 134 learning and its impact on academic performance, they 135 observed a better performance of language learners 136 across a range of academic subjects than the 137 performance of students who don’t study a second 138 language. Learning another language also boosts student 139 literacy, which gives learners an advantage in core school 140 subjects like mathematics and science. 141 2. Improved concentration 142 Just one week of learning a new language has a positive 143 impact on students’ levels of alertness and focus. This 144 improvement was maintained with continuous language 145 study of at least five hours a week. Moreover, this 146 study encompassed learners from the age of 18 to 78, 147 and the improvement in attention span was noted across 148 all age groups. So, studying a new language will boost 149 students’ concentration, no matter what age they are. 150 3. A more powerful memory 151 Studying a language engages memorization skills (learning 152 new words and rules) as well as recall (producing new 153 language in-class activities). So it’s no surprise that people 154 who regularly use a second language have more powerful 155 memories. In fact, research shows that people who speak 156 a second language regularly perform better on memory 157 tests than monolingual people. It makes no difference 158 whether they learned the language as a child or as an 159 adult, either. What’s more, language learning improves 160 both short term and long term memory, 161 4. Stronger communication skills 162 Early studies on language learning found evidence that it 163 boosted learners’ empathy. More recent research has 164 found that empathy is a key trait for success in learning a 165 second language. Speaking a second language can help to 166 improve students’ ability to see things from another 167 perspective. In turn, this can have a positive impact on 168 their communication skills. In addition, the practice of 169 academic skills involved in language study, such as active 170 listening, can improve learners’ communication skills in 171 their everyday lives. 172 5. More creativity 173 Bilingual children exhibit more creativity in problem- 174 solving and flexibility than their monolingual peers. The 175 same holds true for learners of a second language. 176 Researchers across different studies have found that 177 studying a language seems to unlock students’ creative 178 abilities. This could be the result of the thought processes 179 involved in language learning. These include translation, 180 language switching and disciplined study, along with a 181 willingness to learn and adapt. 182 183 Language learning skills will help learners in all areas of 184 their lives, improving their mental abilities, and helping 185 them with problem-solving and decision–making. 186 Ultimately, this all goes towards enriching their personal, 187 social and professional relationships. So, whether you’re a 188 learner or a teacher of other languages, you’re building 189 skills, exercising your brain and building your cognitive 190 reserves every time you speak a second language! Adapted from: https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2022/04/29.