It seems inevitable that at this time of year we lean towards self-reflection - what was, and what will be. For many of us, focusing on improving our health and well-being comes to the top of the list. The obvious go-to's are to fill the veggie crisper and sign up to a new gym membership. While there's so much attention given to the health of our bodies, have you ever given as much thought to the health of your brain and your relationships? We're all hoping to live a long, happy, healthy life - but a fit mind and strong connections are just as essential ingredients for that recipe! Read on to learn about the protective mechanisms and health benefits of learning a second language!

Enhancing memory, concentration and problem solving skills

Image: Results from a study measuring gray-matter volumes in bilingual or monolingual undergraduates, discussed by Mark Antoniou at Knowable Magazine, 29 November 2018.

By now the benefits to cognitive function from learning a language have been well studied and documented. But what does this mean for your everyday life?

Learning a language will see an increase in your working memory. Pretty handy when you forgot to write down that... thing that was so important that you now can't remember... Was it something from the supermarket that you forgot? Or was it something on your to-do list? Or was it a birthday? Or that name? Or that... never mind. The point is: wouldn't it be lovely if recalling important bits of information came slightly easier each day?

Memory is an obvious one, but have you ever heard that language learning can increase your problem-solving skills and decision-making? It's wild but true! Studies suggest that thinking through a problem in your second language allows more logical and creative decision-making. A great tool to have in your box when it comes time to make a very important decision or solve an issue that's been stressing you out. We also know that language learning can increase the ability to concentrate, something we all struggle with in our swiping and scrolling modern world that constantly bids for our attention.

These benefits come from a physical change in our brains that can be seen under MRI. Bilingualism is associated with denser grey matter and stronger white matter. As you learn more, your grey matter increases and is slower to decrease with age than those who are monolingual. So you're not just imagining it – you are absolutely getting smarter when you learn a language!

Potentially staving off Alzheimer's

Improving mental health

An abundance of positive relationships

At El Patio, we try to keep classes together and continue on as a group, Term after Term. Of course, people come and go, but we've had groups that have been together for over 10 years! We foster a space where community is built, curiosity is encouraged, and making mistakes is a given! We've seen friendships blossom, new social groups form and even had couples who met in class get married! We love seeing our community grow, relationships form and strengthen because, learning a language at the end of the day, is a social endevour! And as it turns out, it doesn't just feel good, it's good FOR us! So whether you're thinking of starting, continuing or jumping back in - know, it's one of the best decisions you can make for your health this year.