If you're bilingual, you've probably realized that it rocks. You can chat up that cute Spanish barista at that coffee shop around the corner, easily ace your foreign language requirement, and expand your worldview when you read or watch the news in different languages. But the perks of speaking more than one language go beyond the superficial. Here, the six best advantages to being multilingual.
如果你擁有雙語能力，你可能已經意識到比普通人略勝一籌吧!你絕對可以不經意在咖啡廳用第二種語言跟朋友輕鬆地對話。這張王牌除了可以展示你的才能，還可以擴大你的視野喔!就算長大找工作，在面試的時候，經理也會問你懂什麼語言吧!不過這只是很表面的好處，以下有6大優勢，你一定會蠢蠢欲動去學習多種語言喔!
1. It (literally) pays off to speak more than one language. 你會賺取更多機會
Although the research is limited, there is some evidence that suggests bilingual people may earn more money in their lifetime than non-bilingual people. For example, in 2012, The Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies found that bilingual Latinos in New York City earned $15,000 more annually than NYC Latinos who only spoke English.
Plus, fluency in another language means that employers can send you abroad or use you to communicate with clients that they might not be able to. You are automatically more versatile, so work it (and while you're at it, check out these 10 jobs where being bilingual is unexpectedly important).
2. You can travel abroad more easily. 旅行也比較方便
Culture shock is a common side effect of traveling abroad. But it's easier to relax and have fun when you can order off a menu confidently, ask for directions when you're lost, and pick up on cultural references, nuances, jokes, and slang.
3. And you can also more easily make friends. 容易地認識更多朋友
Speaking multiple languages is a great way to connect with new people, whether abroad or in your home country. It's easier to form lasting relationships with people when you can have full-on conversations with them in their native language instead of having to pantomime everything you're trying to say because you can't understand each other.
4. It helps you stay connected to your family. 可以成為家裡的專屬翻譯
Being able to pick up a phone or shoot off an email in Spanish or Italian to your grandparents who might not speak English is a small — but meaningful way — to stay in touch with your roots, culture, and heritage.
5. It's a conversation starter. 更容易找話題
Casually mention that you're bilingual in conversation and the questions will start flowing. "What language do you speak?" "Are you from there?" "How long have you been fluent?" Plus, the ability to speak a second language might even make you more attractive: A (totally scientific) survey done by online language software program Rocket Languages revealed that the no. 1 sexiest language is French, followed by Italian and Spanish. Seventy-nine percent of people think a bilingual person is more attractive, and 77 percent considered a person to be more intelligent.
6. It keeps your brain sharp. 雙語能令腦部更靈活
A 2013 study published in medical journal Neurology that looked at 684 patients with dementia found that, on average, bilingual patients developed Alzheimer's or dementia 4.5 years later than those who only spoke one language.
And according to a 2012 piece by The New York Times, both languages are constantly active in a bilingual brain, even when you're only using one language at a time. Because of this, your brain is steadily flexing its muscles because it's constantly resolving conflict. Your bilingual brain also has a heightened ability to monitor the environment around it, because it has to know what language to use and when. Just another reason to be proud of your super-powered brain!
** Credit to Veronica Lopez with http://www.cosmopolitan.com/ **
Original Article 原文請按此: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a43469/benefits-of-being-bilingual/