Learning a second language other than an individual's native tongue, provides a number of practical active and passive benefits. In youth, learning a second language is an organic endeavor, with the child picking up words and phrases of the second language spoken by other people around the youth. As the child grows to adulthood, the ability to organically learn a second language is more difficult
. and the learning process transitions to an academic focus. Knowledge of a second language provides practical financial benefits. With the growth of a global economy and the establishment of multinational companies, there is an increased need for employees who are proficient in more than one language. Since second and additional languages are specialized tasks, financial compensation for interpreters and speakers of foreign languages is, on average, higher than for persons who speaks only their native tongue. Education is another area where a second language is a beneficial skill. Since many college programs require proficiency in a secondary language, a child is given a unique head start for future educational success when they learn to speak in a different tongue. Another academic benefit of learning additional languages is that the person who learns also gains insight to the language rules and structures of other cultures, which results in a greater understanding of the structures of one's own language. With a greater understanding of foreign and native languages, people learning new languages also develop greater abstract and critical thinking skills. Learning a second language gives an individual an understanding of peoples, beliefs and cultures different from their own, in turn, leading to a more open understanding of actions of both the individual and other people. Regardless of a person's age, learning a second language provides a number of practical benefits that are useful to the individual and the people around them. More Reference Links: http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3651 http://www.ncssfl.org/papers/BenefitsSecondLanguageStudyNEA.pdf
