Why Study Languages? We live in a global, highly connected
society. Individuals who are prepared to interact, conduct
business and exchange ideas with non-native English speakers
have a distinct advantage in both their personal and
professional lives. Did you know that only 5.6% of the world's
population speaks English as their first language? The
assumption that English is universal is simply not true. Second,
or even third, language acquisition is valued around the world
for its many benefits: Research shows that second language
acquisition improves a person's native language skills, reading
comprehensions, and math skills. Studying another language
trains a person's brain to think creatively and comprehensively
and make connections between related concepts or roots,
resulting in higher intelligence scores in almost every testable
subject area. Studies also suggest that the ability to speak in
multiple languages slows down the normal decline in mental
ability and brain density associated with aging. People