The Cognitive Benefits of Bilingualism: Unlocking Your Potential

The cognitive benefits of being bilingual include enhanced executive function, problem-solving skills, and creativity, among others. Although bilingualism was once associated with mental deficiencies, current research shows that it offers cognitive benefits for people of all ages, boosting children’s cognitive development and shielding seniors from age-related declines.

In this article, we will explore the social, cultural, and cognitive benefits of being bilingual and share practical tips for acquiring a second language at any age.

Let’s start!

Key Takeaways

• Bilingualism refers to the ability to communicate effectively in two languages.
• The cognitive benefits of being bilingual include improved memory, mental agility, and problem-solving skills.
• Bilingualism has a positive effect on learning, as it improves attention, working memory, and other executive functions.
• Besides the cognitive benefits of being bilingual, bilingualism enhances cultural awareness, job opportunities, and relationships.
• Attending language classes, working with a tutor, and finding a language exchange partner are some strategies that can help you learn a second language and reap the cognitive benefits of being bilingual.

What Does It Mean to Be Bilingual?

Being bilingual means having the ability to communicate in two different languages. Bilingual people know both languages to a similar degree, though their level of proficiency may slightly differ. Nonetheless, they can comprehend, speak, and use the two languages effectively in everyday life.

Furthermore, bilingualism encompasses the ability to switch between two languages effortlessly, often based on the social context or setting. For example, bilingual people may speak one language at home and another at work.

Contrary to popular belief, you can become bilingual later in life, though the ease of second-language acquisition may also depend on your age.

Cognitive scientists at MIT found that people can become highly skilled at languages until roughly the age of 18. However, starting to learn a second language after the age of 10 significantly decreases your chances of mastering it to a near-native level.

Simultaneous vs. Sequential Bilingualism

The key difference between simultaneous and sequential bilingualism primarily lies in the manner and timing of language acquisition.

Simply put, simultaneous bilingualism occurs when people—usually children below the age of five—learn two languages at the same time. This typically happens in bilingual households, i.e., when parents speak different native languages, such as English and Spanish, enabling the child to acquire both languages concurrently to a similar proficiency level.

By contrast, sequential bilingualism occurs when you learn a second language after acquiring the first, which usually happens later in life. For example, you might acquire a second language in school or learn it after moving abroad.

In other words, simultaneous bilingualism happens naturally when the child is exposed to two languages in their daily life. Meanwhile, sequential bilingualism is often, though not always, achieved through structured learning, e.g., by taking language classes.

Although slightly different, simultaneous and sequential bilingualism both come with similar benefits.

On that note, let’s explore the mental benefits of being bilingual.

6 Major Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual

The cognitive benefits of being bilingual include better memory, boosted brainpower, and improved cognitive flexibility, among others.

Here’s a detailed overview of the key benefits of being bilingual:

#1. Better Memory

Improved memory is one of the greatest cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Researchers from Granada and York Universities found that bilingual children outperform monolingual children in all tasks requiring working memory, especially those involving additional executive function demands, such as inhibition.

This can be explained by the fact that acquiring, using, and switching between two languages causes the brain to become more efficient and adept at storing and retrieving information. Therefore, bilingual individuals tend to have a higher working memory capacity than those who only know and use one language.

#2. Improved Cognitive Flexibility

Bilingual individuals tend to enjoy greater cognitive flexibility than those who are monolingual. As such, they may find it easier to switch between tasks, process multiple concepts at once, take in new information, and even adapt to changing environments.

According to researchers from Northwestern University, when bilingual people speak one language, the other remains active, leading the languages to “compete” in the brain.

While language co-activation may seem like a disadvantage of being bilingual—it explains why bilingual people can be prone to tip-of-the-tongue states, where they remember specific details about the word but not the word itself—this isn’t entirely true.

The bilingual brain constantly relies on executive functions, such as inhibition, to balance both languages, thereby strengthening executive control and increasing mental agility.

#3. Improved Problem-Solving Capabilities

Executive functions, such as attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and task-switching, are fundamental to effective problem-solving and decision-making. Since using two languages, especially daily, enhances these abilities, bilingual individuals may find it easier to analyze and solve problems.

Furthermore, the process of balancing two languages, i.e., inhibiting one language while using the other, may train the brain to filter out irrelevant information. This can help bilingual individuals avoid distractions and improve concentration, allowing them to solve problems more efficiently.

#4. Accelerated Cognitive Development

Bilingualism and bilingual exposure are associated with improved cognitive development, even at a very early age, which is another major cognitive benefit of being bilingual.

Research shows that while the inhibition of one language while speaking another helps enhance executive function, merely hearing and processing two languages in the first months of life is enough to significantly improve cognitive control.

A study by Kovács and Mehler suggests that bilingual exposure boosts cognitive development well before language production begins—the results reveal that exposure to bilingualism increases cognitive control even in seven-month infants. Bilingual infants can also detect and distinguish different languages, which may help them acquire them more easily.

Moreover, Professor Yang found that bilingualism enhances cognition regardless of socioeconomic status. His research reveals that bilingual infants of low socioeconomic status demonstrate greater cognitive development than their monolingual counterparts. Plus, bilingual children of the same socioeconomic status perform better in behavioral tests.

#5. Slowed Cognitive Decline

The cognitive benefits of being bilingual extend across all age groups; besides aiding cognitive development in infants, bilingualism may protect adults against cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Bialystok et al. found that bilingualism may contribute to cognitive reserve, which may delay the onset of dementia in older adults. Similarly, a study done by Li et al. suggests that early acquisition of a second language may offer protection against age-related decline by altering prefrontal, bilateral temporal, medial temporal, and superior parietal brain regions.

#6. Enhanced Creativity

Creativity may seem like a rather unexpected cognitive benefit of being bilingual. However, it isn’t all that surprising, considering that bilingual individuals are more likely to be exposed to diverse cultures, environments, and experiences. Therefore, they typically have a wider pool of concepts to draw ideas and inspiration from.

Furthermore, researchers from the Guangdong University of Technology discovered that the cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility that bilingual people tend to demonstrate promote creativity. Bilingual individuals often excel at divergent thinking, allowing them to come up with original ideas and solutions.

Now that we’ve discussed the main cognitive benefits of being bilingual, let’s explore the connection between bilingualism and IQ.

How Does Being Bilingual Affect IQ?

Although the effects of bilingualism on intelligence have been a focus of research since the 20th century, it isn’t clear how being bilingual affects IQ.

Most early studies demonstrated a link between bilingualism and low IQ. For example, a 1926 study by Goodenough claimed that American and North European children are significantly more intelligent than other racial and ethnic groups. It also pointed out the connection between using another language at home, which was thought to contribute to lower intelligence scores.

However, this isn’t to say that monolinguals are smarter than bilinguals or that bilinguals can’t be geniuses.

On the contrary, most early studies have been discredited, primarily because they used various types of intelligence tests without differentiating them. Moreover, they failed to account for socioeconomic status and proficiency in the testing language, among other factors. Worse yet, some early research has been used to push the eugenic agenda.

In 1965, Peal and Lambert conducted a study on the effects of bilingualism on children’s intelligence, suggesting contrary findings to previous studies. The results revealed that bilingual children outperform monolinguals on verbal and non-verbal tests, likely due to greater mental flexibility, diversified cognitive abilities, and ease of concept formation.

However, later studies also found mixed results. While there is no research on the average IQ of bilinguals or consensus on the effects of bilingualism on IQ, most recent studies confirm that bilingual children perform better on non-verbal IQ tests.

For example, a study done by researchers from the University of Reading suggests that sequential bilingual children who speak their native language at home and another language at school score higher in non-verbal IQ tests than those who only speak their non-native language.

Therefore, children may benefit from continuing to speak their native language at home after moving abroad.

How Does Being Bilingual Affect Learning?

Being bilingual generally affects learning positively, as bilingualism strengthens cognitive flexibility, attention, memory, task-switching capabilities, and other executive functions that aid learning. Therefore, bilingual people are well-equipped to take in, process, and retain new information. They also tend to excel at tasks that involve multitasking and complex, abstract concepts.

Furthermore, bilinguals may find it easier to acquire additional languages since they tend to be adept at recognizing language patterns due to enhanced metalinguistic awareness.

Since bilingual children often develop metalinguistic skills earlier than their monolingual counterparts due to multiple language exposure, they typically find it easier to pick up word structures. This cognitive advantage can help them learn how to read faster.

Furthermore, the benefits of bilingualism extend beyond reading and language learning. Researchers from Singapore Management University found that bilingual children demonstrate more advanced mathematical reasoning and numeracy skills. They also tend to perform better on standardized mathematical tests and tests involving mathematical word problems.

That said, bilingualism doesn’t always translate into high academic achievement. Some bilinguals may find school more challenging, especially if they are taught in their non-native language. It’s not unusual for bilingual children and adults to mix up words or have difficulty finding the right word, which could affect their academic performance.

3 Other Benefits of Being Bilingual

Other benefits of being bilingual include enhanced cultural awareness, broader occupational and educational opportunities, and deeper social connections.

Let’s dissect each of these benefits of being bilingual:

#1. Increased Cultural Awareness

Whether you’re exposed to different languages as a child or learning additional languages as an adult, bilingualism can help you learn about other cultures. Deepening appreciation for cultural differences and traditions also allows you to broaden your worldview and become more open to people from different backgrounds.

Moreover, knowing additional languages can help you immerse yourself in local culture while traveling, resulting in a richer, more authentic experience. Bilingualism may also give you the opportunity to enjoy media—be it music, movies, or books—in the original language, which can help you become more familiar with the cultural subtleties encoded in it.

#2. Broader Job and Education Opportunities

Being bilingual can open doors to more education opportunities, such as student exchange programs or specialized scholarships.

Better yet, bilingualism offers a competitive edge in the job market, allowing you to differentiate yourself from other candidates with a similar professional background.

While certain jobs, such as those in customer service, translation, or tourism, may require proficiency in two or more languages, being bilingual can come in handy in virtually any field. It can also boost your career prospects by providing you access to jobs at global companies or overseas.

#3. Enhanced Interpersonal Relationships

Being bilingual can help you foster empathy and understanding, leading to closer, more fulfilling interpersonal relationships. Bilingualism enhances perspective-taking by enabling you to connect and communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. This can help you identify with others and their unique experiences, thereby improving your emotional intelligence.

Moreover, being bilingual can help you create stronger family and community ties, preserve cultural and family traditions, and nurture a sense of cultural identity in a globalized world.

How to Become Bilingual and Boost Your Cognitive Capabilities

To become bilingual and boost your cognitive capabilities, consider taking language courses, hiring a language tutor, or practicing with a language exchange partner.

Language-learning apps, watching movies, and reading books in a foreign language, as well as traveling, can also enhance your language skills.

Here’s how each of these strategies can help you become bilingual:

• Language courses. Enrolling in a language course can help you build a strong foundation in grammar and other essential language skills. Plus, it can help you meet like-minded people.
• Language tutor. A language tutor is the perfect choice for those looking for a personalized language-learning experience. One-on-one tutoring can help you acquire the language at your preferred pace, fill in knowledge gaps, and achieve any specific language goals you may have.
• Language exchange partner. Language exchange is a mutually beneficial experience that can help you acquire a foreign language through casual, real-life conversations. It is also a great way to learn the nuances of colloquial language, such as slang, which may not be covered in traditional textbooks.
• Language-learning apps. If you’re looking for convenience, fun, and flexibility, language-learning apps, such as Duolingo, may be right up your alley. While they have limited depth and thus work best as a supplementary tool, these apps can help you sustain motivation by offering a gamified language-learning experience.
• Movies, books, and music. Besides deepening language knowledge, watching movies, reading books, and listening to music in your target language can also increase cultural awareness.
• Traveling. Immersing yourself in the local culture is one of the most effective ways to pick up a new language, as traveling encourages you to apply it in real-life situations. Moreover, constant exposure to the language and culture can accelerate learning.

Take this free test to get accurate results

Discover your IQ score in minutes with our free, expert-approved IQ test!

Start the test now

Final Thoughts

While the connection between bilingualism and IQ is rather ambiguous, there’s no denying that speaking two—or even more—languages comes with significant benefits. These range from increased cultural awareness to protection against cognitive decline and beyond.

If you want to reap the social, career, and cognitive benefits of being bilingual, know that it’s never too late to pick up a second language; it may just take more time and effort to master it as an adult.