Many believe that children who can speak two languages have a higher IQ. this means being bilingual increases your chances of getting smarter.
Do you think they’re right?
Well, they are! Knowing two or more languages improve your cognitive abilities and boost your brainpower!
However, you should note that bilingualism is not just the ability to talk in two languages. It’s more complicated than that.
Want to know all about bilingualism and how it affects our IQs? Well, you’re just at the right place!
Today, we’ll explore how being bilingual can improve brain flexibility, problem-solving skills, memory, attention, and even multitasking!
It even gets more exciting, because we’re going to see how bilingualism protects you from Alzheimer’s and dementia! Finally, we’ll answer the question everyone wants to know. Does bilingualism truly boost IQ?
Let’s find out!
The Concept of Bilingualism
Who is a bilingual person? Am I bilingual if I know 10 Spanish sentences and 2 German slangs?
Well, no!
Bilingualism means the ability to fluently speak two languages. So, if you can fluently talk about everyday things and communicate with others who speak that language, you’re a bilingual!
This allows you to open doors to different cultures and international opportunities. If you’re not a bilingual, it’s not too late. You don’t have to grow up in a bilingual environment or live with parents from different countries to be one!
You can still get a language course and start something you like. It’s like hitting two buttons with one finger! You can both learn something you wanted for a long time, and boost your IQ!
Bilingualism and Learning Abilities
Do bilingual individuals learn faster?
In short, yes! The ability to speak and understand two languages, have a great impact on your learning skills. Bilinguals have good cognitive flexibility that helps them grasp new topics faster.
Learning a new language also improves your memory, attention, and language proficiency. This makes you great at information processing and communication!
The Enhancement of Cognitive Flexibility
Speaking two languages can enhance your cognitive flexibility! It means you can switch between tasks more quickly and you won’t have a hard time focusing again. This is something that few people know of!
Being two or more languages means that you’ll be more adaptable in new situations and think more creatively.
Young children who speak two languages show advanced cognitive skills compared to their peers who are monolingual. Their linguistic minds also develop faster.
So, if you want to have a smart child, you can appreciate them to learn a new language!
Improvements in Problem-Solving Skills
People who speak two or more languages have abilities like attention and information processing.
Learning a second language also makes your analytical and critical thinking skills stronger. It also exercises your mind and gives you an enhanced working memory. This means your memory storage is bigger than others, and you can keep more information there!
And there’s more! Bilinguals can remember things better, and their memories are more agile!
Increased Language Proficiency
If you’re already bilingual and you want to start studying a third language, you can do it faster than your monolingual friends!
You already have vocabulary and communication skills, and your mind knows about grammar and syntax in two different languages.
This is why you learn grammar and the logic behind it in every language better, you can switch between languages, and you can easily mimic pronunciation.
Improved Mental Multitasking
Have you seen people who can text, watch their favorite TV show, and also listen to you talking to someone else?
These people are multitaskers and many of them are bilinguals!
Learning a second language trains your brain to process multiple information which over time, makes doing different tasks at the same time a habit!
Bilingualism as a Shield against Age-Related Cognitive Decline
If you ask a mental health expert what you can do to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, they probably give you a list, with “Learning a new language” on top of it!
Research shows that if you’re bilingual, then you’ll experience delayed dementia compared to monolinguals.
Speaking two or more languages makes the brain’s neural connections strong. Also, remember that there’s no limit to bilingualism’s effect on brain aging.
It means that even if you’re enjoying your seniority and you’re afraid of cognitive decline, you can start learning a new language and postpone it for a long time.
It’s never too late for that!
Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
One great strategy to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is to learn a new language.
Studies show that seniors who know two languages or more, do better on their cognitive test, and delay the process of Alzheimer’s disease, even if they’re genetically likely to develop it someday!
Resistance to Mental Decline
Studies show that bilinguals mostly have better problem-solving abilities. Their memories are better and they have a more effective attention to things.
These traits help you resist mental decline!
These results come right from York University and American University findings through magnetic resonance imaging and the Stroop test. And guess what?
They prove that bilinguals and multilinguals mentally age slower than monolinguals!
Use bilingualism to enhance your brain connectivity. This can help you keep it healthy for a long time!
Slower Cognitive Aging
With an active and flexible mind, you’ll have an agile brain that’s on its healthy cognitive lane and moving forward!
Want to stay forever young mentally?
Learn a new language! Try Spanish, French, or even Arabic!
Soon, you’ll notice how fast your memory is working and how it’s easier to focus on something!
All of these help you fight an old brain!
Enhanced Executive Functioning
People who speak two languages excel in problem-solving and decision-making. This is why they’re naturally good at cognitive control and attention.
Learning a new language also boosts creativity, multitasking skills, and working memory.
All these give you the power to go through executive functions in a perfect manner!
Does Bilingualism Truly Boost IQ?
Well, yes! Even science approves the relationship between IQ and bilingualism!
Recent scientific studies suggest that although you can’t usually change your IQ score, learning a new language deeply can make it possible.
Bilingual individuals often perform better on an iqexam, so in some ways they’re smart!
Bilingualism and IQ
So, you’re asking how to improve your IQ score by learning another language?
First, find a second language you like. Maybe French, German, Spanish, or Arabic? How about a little Chinese or Russian?
If you can’t choose search YouTube or other platforms and watch 10-minute videos of each language. Which do you like more? Which one has the best sounds? Go for that one!
The next step is a long one since it may take months or even years! In this step, you should learn the new language deeply to the extent that we could call you a bilingual!
Switch between languages, play language games, and let it boost your IQ a little more every day!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you learn a new language or already know one, is pretty great for your brain health!
First of all, it improves your learning abilities and make you a fast-learner for life! Then, you can see its affects on your memory, attention and multi-tasking skills. You should feel like you can remember things easier, while recalling them better.
Learning a third or fourth language becomes much easier for you, but it’s not the real magic of bilingualism! The real deal is that speaking two languages reduces the speed of brain aging.
Studies have shown that learning two or more languages gives you a great chance of protection against cognitive-decline due to aging, and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A very popular question is if being a bilingual has something to do with IQ score. Many ask if learning another language helps them do better at an IQ test.
Well, many studies have shown the relationship between high intelligence and bilingualism. You probably do better on your IQ test if you’re a bilingual.
If you’re just learning a second language, you’re not considered a bilingual. Once you learn this new language very deeply, your cognitive abilities start to improve. In less than two years, you can expect a development in your IQ score.
So, if you want to have a healthier brain, like having smart children, or don’t like your senior loved ones to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, then you should have a plan for them or you to learn a new language!
It opens new doors to your communications, let you learn new music, new pieces of art, new literature, and a whole new world! Is it hard? Well, sometimes it could be, but the benefits are surely worth it!
