English is the most spoken and studied language globally and has become the primary means of international communication. More than 750 million people worldwide speak it as a foreign language. Aside from the direct value of learning English to communicate with others, new learners also benefit from improved cognitive development.

Research from Frontiers in Psychology reveals that second language learning enhances executive function and metalinguistic awareness. Because learners need to memorise and understand the grammar or nuances of a new language, they can enhance their ability to understand cohesion and lexical complexity. The most promising aspect here is that cognitive changes can still impact a learner well into adulthood. It’s interesting to see how bilingualism affects how your brain processes information and accumulates knowledge.

How learning English impacts your brain

English is an excellent language because of its vast vocabulary, which allows for more depth and flexibility in self-expression and streamlines how you describe your intended message. Of course, it is also challenging to learn because of how complex its grammatical rules can be. Figures of speech, homonyms, and grammatical exceptions in structure also complicate the learning process.

While this may be daunting for new learners, this aspect makes it better for your brain and its development. English requires the learner to improve their reasoning skills and memory, making way for new neural pathways that make your brain essentially function better. As you deepen your comprehension, you add brain plasticity that allows you to adjust and maintain your understanding as you age. This is crucial for preserving your memory and allowing your brain to recover from injury.

Although countless studies note that learning a new language at a younger age is easier, this doesn’t mean the cognitive benefits are exclusive to learners aged 18 and below. The process may not necessarily be as quick, but it is still rewarding and completely doable. In fact, many adults who learn new languages tend to delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia significantly compared to those who only speak one language. Recent data from Alzheimer’s & Dementia also found that adults who have learned a second language without as much fluency can still lower their risk of mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, studies from the National Institute of Health found that bilinguals can switch tasks faster and achieve these objectives successfully.

Managing cognitive development

It’s good to have a baseline of your brain function and other health aspects that can impact your learning ability. This will give you a picture of your learning process so you can identify areas for growth and potential challenges along the way.

You don’t need a full neurological breakdown for this. You can take simple cognitive exams and even go for a free eye test to see where you’re at. You’d be surprised how much an eye test can reveal about any potential cognitive issues, which are much more accessible due to NHS-funded ones that you can find through Vision Express, Boots Opticians, and Specsavers nationwide. These comprehensive exams measure your eye movement through various biosensors and expert assessments, revealing your cognitive processes’ effectiveness. Additionally, multiple studies have seen a direct link between visual impairment and issues with cognitive development.

For other brain function tests, there are plenty of free and reliable sources online, such as IDR Labs’ cognitive function test and the self-test guides from the Institute on Aging. If you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, it will be easier to address any concerns accordingly.

Once you’ve got a handle on this, it’s best to integrate learning English into other parts of your life. Add this process to your recreational activities to continue to hone your skills and essentially make the new language a natural part of your daily functioning. Something as simple as watching English media and reading content in the language can simplify the switch between languages. You can even join or take up an educational channel subscription to access tons of updated content that is made to help viewers immerse in the English language. English Club TV Group specifically creates programs that cater to the learner’s perspective so they can get entertaining and natural resources that show how to pronounce and grasp different concepts, sentences, and topics.

With these tools, you can connect with others who are learning English as a second language. This endeavour helps your development while boosting your cognitive skills through community and social interaction. Overall, it makes for a healthy ecosystem that’s worth the effort.

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Article written by Rose Jennings