Learning a new language at any age is a fun way to keep your brain sharp

By John Toth

The Bulletin

My Duolingo icon is not happy. It will send me a reminder email shortly with the heading, “Nobody ignores me for long.”

I have been doing language lessons on Duolingo for several years. I use the free version and muddle through the ads because I am too cheap to use the paid version.

While the ads are a small nuisance, along with the daily reminders, they are a minor trade-off for the benefits that come with learning or refreshing a language and giving my brain a daily workout.

I think everyone should consider learning a second language. Growing up, I  learned two languages in addition to my native tongue in a relatively short time.

I was born in Hungary, where they speak Hungarian, which is nothing like any other language.  At age 10, I was dropped into an environment in which I had to learn German quickly to have a chance of passing classes in Vienna, Austria.

At age eleven and a half, I came to the USA and had to learn English – again really fast – to have a chance of passing school here. At age 12, I had a working knowledge of three languages.

New languages don’t come easy, but they fade rapidly if not used. That’s why I complete at least one German lesson daily. It keeps me from forgetting more of what I had learned as a child. I throw in a little Spanish every now and then, just to keep it more interesting.

While my own journey with languages began out of necessity, the cognitive and emotional benefits are clear for everyone, regardless of age.

Tackling a new language acts as a rigorous workout for the brain, creating new neural pathways and strengthening existing ones, which increases the brain’s resilience against age-related decline.

Studies show that bilingualism and the active process of language acquisition can delay the onset of dementia symptoms by up to four or five years compared to monolingual peers.

It enhances working memory, attention to detail and the ability to focus by forcing the brain to constantly filter information and switch between language systems.

Engaging in a complex, long-term challenge provides a sense of accomplishment, boosts self-esteem and keeps the mind oriented toward future goals.

Language learning also encourages social interaction and helps build new social networks.

Despite these clear benefits, I am often reminded of how much of an outlier I am.

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data and national surveys, only 10.7% of native-born Americans with a recent immigrant heritage are bilingual. 

For native-born Americans who grew up speaking English and do not have recent immigrant heritage, the percentage of those who possess conversational fluency in a second language drops into the single digits.

Even after including Americans born elsewhere, the total number of those who speak more than one language is in the low 20 percentile.

Whether you decide to tackle a few phrases on a smartphone app during your morning coffee, enroll in a local community college course, or join a neighborhood conversation group, the effort pays immediate dividends.

You are not just preserving your mental sharpness; you are actively expanding the borders of your world. Stepping into the world of  those who pursue conversational fluency is a bold rebellion against mental stagnation.

Pick a language that has always intrigued you, lean into the awkwardness of being a beginner again and discover exactly how sharp and expansive your mind can still be.

(Do you speak multiple languages? How did you learn and why? Write to me at john.bulletin@gmail.com, and we’ll share your story with our readers.)