Benefits of learning a L2 (second language); A person’s second language, or L2, is a language that is not the native language (first language or L1) of the speaker, but is learned later. A second language may be a neighboring language, another language of the speaker’s home country, or a foreign language. A speaker’s dominant language, which is the language a speaker uses most or is most comfortable with, is not necessarily the speaker’s first language. For example, the Canadian census defines first language for its purposes as “the first language learned in childhood and still spoken”, recognizing that for some, the earliest language may be lost, a process known as language attrition. This can happen when young children start school or move to a new language environment.
The defining difference between a first language (L1) and a second language (L2) is the age the person learned the language. For example, linguist Eric Lenneberg used second language to mean a language consciously acquired or used by its speaker after puberty. In most cases, people never achieve the same level of fluency and comprehension in their second languages as in their first language. These views are closely associated with the critical period hypothesis.
In acquiring an L2, Hyltenstam (1992) found that around the age of six or seven seemed to be a cut-off point for bilinguals to achieve native-like proficiency. After that age, L2 learners could get near-native-like-ness but their language would, while consisting of few actual errors, have enough errors to set them apart from the L1 group. The inability of some subjects to achieve native-like proficiency must be seen in relation to the age of onset (AO). Later, Hyltenstam & Abrahamsson (2003) modified their age cut-offs to argue that after childhood, in general, it becomes more and more difficult to acquire native-like-ness, but that there is no cut-off point in particular.
In this article, you will learn some of the benefits of learning a L2 (second language);
1. It increases your self confidence:
Learning a second language is a natural boost for self confidence since it allows you to be able to communicate with people who you may not share the same cultural or historical backgrounds with. You will also be able to relate with people who only speak that language confidently without the fear of not been understood by them.
2. It helps to develop the brain:
Learning a second or new language puts the brain in a different situation, it means moving out of your comfort zone in other to learn something new which will increase your concentration, your long term memory, problem solving as well as listening skills.
2. It creates job opportunities:
In most countries, language translators are employed to help people to translate from one language to another especially if both parties involved in a dialogue do not speak or understand the same language. So therefore, Situations like this create job opportunities for learners of second language or more than one language.
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