Students who are able to speak two or more languages are able to adjust to new situations better than people who only speak one language. Babies who grew up hearing more than one language had to concentrate to discern between the different languages in order to develop speaking proficiency. Studies suggest that as these children grow older, they are better able to concentrate on their studies and, subsequently, pay attention in class.
People access the world through language and having access to more than one language gives students different perspectives on a single problem. By translating between two languages, students are better able to understand the core concepts behind poems or mathematical problems, according to researchers from the University of London.
Tests done by researchers Agnes Kovacs and Jaques Mehler found that infants spoken to by parents in different languages are able to anticipate change and adjust to confusing situations faster than other children. This seems to be a result of having to distinguish between more than one language early on. According to Professor Jared Diamond, this means that in class, students can adapt to new material quickly and learn new skills relatively easily.
Researchers from York University in Toronto, Canada, argue that bilingual speakers may be better protected against cognitive problems in old age. According to their research of 104 study subjects from two cultures, bilingual students use parts of their brain that other people do not, and if they continue to do, the researchers believe they will remain mentally sharper for a longer period of time. The research suggests that a second language may even delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.