The New York Times
Gray Matter: Why Bilinguals are Smarter
By YUDHIJIT BHATTACHARJEE
Published: March 17, 2012
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 and even shielding against dementia in old age.
Read all of the article here.
As someone who has struggled to learn to read, write and speak one language and half-hearted attempts to learn another, I am humbled by people who know two or three or four or more languages. How is this possible? I am interested to hear stories from all of you re: acquiring a language, whether it has been one (like me) or more. I invite you to post your comments here at our blog.
