XXIV Международный конкурс научно-исследовательских и творческих работ учащихся
Старт в науке
How language learning helps to improve our memory (Как изучение языков способствует улучшению памяти)
Автор работы награжден дипломом победителя II степени
Полная версия работы доступна во вкладке "Файлы работы" в формате PDF
Introduction
Learning foreign languages has become an unseparable part of people’s lives. Nowadays, it may seem that almost everyone is learning a foreign language, or at least seriously considering it. There are various educational, economic, cultural reasons to learn a foreign language. People do it for work, study, personal development, enriching their travel experiences, understanding their own language and culture better.
Not everyone knows that the process of learning a new language can be beneficial from another point of view. Many scientists, linguists, neurologists and psychologists indicate that learning a foreign language is one of the most successful ways of brain training. In other words, it leads to brain and memory development.
The relevance of this work lies in the research on how learning foreign languages helps people to become smarter, think faster and express their thoughts better. Unfortunately, few people know about this and therefore many simply do not want to learn something new.
The purpose of the work is to prove with the help of research conducted among students and teachers of different ages and learning and teaching different subjects the importance and beneficial effects on their brain and memory.
The object of our research is the process of brain and memory development.
Basic research methods are analysis of scientific literature, generalization, comparison and systematization.
Referring to literary sources, the study mainly used information from Internet resources, which include various scientific articles on linguistics and psycholinguistics by foreign and native authors, as well as blogs.
The practical value of the work lies in the fact that this topic is covered little in the works due to ignorance of important information while learning a foreign language. With the help of this knowledge people may become more interested and motivated in learning new languages. The result of this research may be implemented at the classes on psycho-linguistic lectures at school and university. Our personal contribution to solving this problem consists in conducting data analysis and surveys on which conclusions on this topic are based.
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Language learning and brain development
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Language learning and its effect on brain size
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Speaking in your native language requires a certain brain activity from a person, while almost all the work is done by the left hemisphere of the brain. Thus, the Wernicke zone, located in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere, is responsible for understanding the interlocutor's speech, and the Broca's center in the left frontal lobe is responsible for reproducing its own words. There is an active data exchange between these zones, but it is familiar to us and does not cause difficulties, which means there is no need to create new neural connections.
When learning a foreign language, even a close language group, the picture changes dramatically. During this process, you have to memorize unfamiliar words, study the writing system, the language system and work on ways to express your own thoughts. Here, both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are almost equally involved, between which an intensive exchange of data begins. [7]
Psychologists have not always considered language learning and memory to be directly linked. Both of these aspects are hugely important to the human experience, whether language is spoken, written, signed, or interpreted. [5]
Speaking a foreign language is always useful but learning a new language can be a difficult task. There are so many weird rules, unfamiliar words and pronunciation problems that most of the time you believe that you’ll never learn anything. It is easy to feel discouraged and to give up. But the truth is that you are catching up faster than you believe and soon you will manage to master it and become a real expert. Or at least you’ll learn enough to order a tea next time you are visiting the country whose language you are learning. Not only does learning languages have ability to transform social aspects of your life but it can also affect your brain. [8]
In studies, language learning has been linked to growth in specific areas of the brain, including areas not traditionally associated with language.
For example, studies have shown that individuals who speak more than one language have increased growth in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
Of course, memory is typically linked to learning anything that requires repetition and memorization. However, the human hippocampus that stores memories is actually fundamental in storing word associations necessary for using a learned language.
The hippocampus is responsible for all of the following actions:
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storing logical associations based on previously learned language;
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allowing people to relate the meanings of words to one another;
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allowing people to find context in spoken and written words.
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How learning a new language structurally alters the brain
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The changes that occur in the human brain during none—standard intellectual activity is called the phenomenon of neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to change its structure. At the same time, not only newly created connections of neurons are built, but also damaged ones are partially restored. If you constantly give the brain such intellectual loads, then neuroplasticity will manifest itself until old age, which will keep this organ in "tone", and this is very important. After all, it is with the help of neural connections that human imagination, memory and feeling’s function1. [7]
Our bodies evolve to adapt to the environment, not only over millions of years, but also over the days and years of an individual's life.
Learning and using language shape the physical structures of our brain. When two neurons respond to a stimulus (for example, a word), they begin to form chemical and physical pathways to each other, which strengthen or weaken depending on how often they are activated together. This process of “neurons that fire together connect together” is the basis for all learning and is reflected in the formation of gray matter (where neurons communicate with each other) and white matter (fat pathways connecting areas of gray matter). [3]
Executive functions are the most complex brain functions — the most “human” functions that separate us from apes and other animals. They’re often observed in parts of the brain that are the newest, in evolutionary terms: the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for advanced processing; the bilateral supramarginal gyri, which play a role in linking words and meanings; and the anterior cingulate. Studies show that the bilingual experience alters the structure of these areas.
First of all, we see increases in gray matter volume. The brain is made up of cells called neurons, which each have a cell body and little branching connections called dendrites. Gray matter refers to how many cell bodies and dendrites there are. Bilingual experience makes gray matter denser, so you have more cells. This is an indication of a healthier brain.
The volume of gray matter increases as a result of language learning. For example, Einstein had an abnormally large amount of gray matter. [9]
The brain’s neuroplasticity is not just effective for language learning. The human brain is an incredible creation of nature, as that same plasticity allows it to alter its own structure and repair itself should damage or injury occur. The brain is able to mold itself based on its experiences. Language learning creates one of these extraordinary impacts.
When a person is fluent in two (or more) languages, both languages are always active in the brain, requiring the brain to manage and differentiate between them constantly. This is something that does not occur in monolingual brains. This helps to explain why the brain sizes, structures, and functions are different in multilingual individuals. [4]
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The role of age in language learning
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Learning a second language is beneficial for many reasons, whether personal or professional. As children, people acquire language naturally from their environment, absorbing sounds and associating them to concepts with ease. But what about adults? How well can they learn a second language?
Adults can acquire almost perfect second language fluency, but it is harder and less likely than for those under the age of 18. The process is more cognitively complex and time-consuming due to differences in lifestyle between adults and children. However, this does not make it impossible.
Children may acquire language more naturally than adults, but that does not mean they alone can reach high levels of fluency in foreign languages. Adults may become just as fluent as a native speaker if they are willing to put in the work.
It has long been stated that learning a language is much easier for young children than for adolescents and adults. However, there are arguments that adults can actually learn additional languages more efficiently than young children can because adults have the means and extra knowledge to study and think critically, which children lack.
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Young children learn second languages more naturally.
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Adults learn second languages more quickly.
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Young children will develop proper accents when learning second languages.
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Adults will grasp proper grammar more effectively.
Still, anyone can become completely fluent at any age with practice.[6]
Brain in early childhood and language learning
The brains of young children are so flexible that they can absorb tongues like sponges. It is important to know that learning multiple languages will not interfere with a child's ability to learn their native language. At this young age, a child can learn an almost unlimited number of sound and semantic associations.
The Early Adolescent Brain and Language Learning
Children aged 7-11 who are starting to learn a second language can hold sound and control it more strongly than younger children, can intuitively understand things and do not analyze too much, worry less about the language.
Adolescent brain and language learning
It is said that the adolescent brain, or, more precisely, the brain of a teenager (aged 12-25 years), experiences an increase in neuroplasticity. At this time, the brain craves information.
Learning a new language at this age has a unique function of increasing a person's self-confidence. Therefore, it will be quite difficult to learn the language at this stage, but it is certainly possible.
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Adult brain and Language learning
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Neural networks in adults have become more flexible.
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The brain has built more integrated neural networks.
The amount of gray and white matter was increased. The increased flexibility of neural networks in people who know several languages and are in the process of learning a foreign language allows you to speed up learning of all kinds. These neural networks can go beyond effective language learning and affect all types of information processing.
Elderly brain and language learning
With age comes the fear of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The brains of older people can benefit greatly from the changes that occur during language learning. Increased neural pathways and brain plasticity can delay the development of cognitive diseases for years.
Learning a second language in adulthood provides the following cognitive benefits:
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Increased concentration of attention
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Stronger ability to focus
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Excellent ability to read and understand text
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Some other interesting facts about language learning
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Knowledge of two languages will delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Learning a second foreign language helps to fight Alzheimer's disease. In 2010, a study was conducted. It was attended by 200 patients suffering from this disease. According to the study report, those who know more than one language experienced symptoms of the disease after 5.1 years.
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Learning foreign languages can affect your musical ear.
The perception of musical works can significantly improve for those who learn a new language. After all, perceiving someone else's speech by ear, we must catch intonations and a lot of new and unfamiliar sounds.
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Language experts differ in their ability to multitask.
Those who speak several languages are able to switch between tasks more easily and solve several different problems in their minds in parallel. In addition, they adapt faster and easier to unexpected changes in circumstances.
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Foreign languages increase concentration.
Learning a foreign language, a person is forced to delve into every rule, word and sentence. This helps to develop concentration and attention2. [1]
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People with high IQs are good language learners
IQ test is a good predictor for success in classroom where the emphasis is on learning about the language such as grammar rules and vocabulary items. People who do well in IQ test may also do well in other kinds of test. However, in natural language learning setting and in classroom where language acquisition through interactive language is emphasized, research has shown that learners with a wide variety of intellectual abilities can be successful language learners especially if the skill accessed are oral communication skill rather than metalinguistic knowledge. [2]
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Some proves that language learning affects our brain and can help to improve our memory relying on our research
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How language learning improves our memory
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To prove the fact that learning foreign languages can help people to improve their memory the research was conducted with the help of a survey. The goal of the survey was identified as getting precise results on how well at remembering things and logical thinking are the people with different foreign languages skills. Specific groups of people were chosen to be respondents and particular questions on visual and audio memory were asked.
First, the respondents were suggested to look at the picture (see Attachment 1) for several seconds and to remember as much as possible. The following questions were: “How many odd numbers were there in the first picture?”, “Was there a smiling smile?” What color was the ballon at the beginning of the test?”
After that they had to answer another question (see Attachment 2), but the next one was about the picture in the previous slide. It sounded like: “Choose a false statement about the previous picture” with some options provided. Then people were asked “What colors were the figures in the previous photo?”
After these tricky questions the respondents were shown a picture (see Attachment 3) for several seconds followed by a question:” What vegetable missed in the picture you have just seen?” The last question was about the picture with girls and sounded like: “What background was there in the picture?”
For checking auditory memory, we conducted an arithmetic test by Wexler, when the respondents had to listen and then to repeat several numbers. After that for checking the volume of this type of memory, the test by Venger was carried out.
The volume of auditory memory is checked the following way. People were asked to memorize 10 simple short words. For example, whale, onion, cat, food, day, tail, sleep, mouse, soup, chair. The words were read slowly, pronounced well. Then they were supposed to repeat them.
Based on the results of the responses, a diagram was compiled. It clearly shows the results of the survey. They are presented as a percentage, which also makes it possible to see more clearly the outcome of our findings.
The analyses of this research shows that the vast majority (52%) having given right answers are the teachers of English. 21% of successful answers were given by the teachers of other subjects. 18% belong to teenagers learning foreign languages intensely and only 9% are left to teenagers learning foreign languages at an intermediate level.
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How language learning influences our logical thinking
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Based on the analysis of different scientists it is clear that learning a foreign language also has a great impact on people’s logical thinking and skills.
Anyway, we decided to independently confirm this fact by conducting another small survey among teachers of foreign languages, teachers who do not teach foreign languages, students studying foreign languages at the profile and non-profile levels.
The chosen questions were the following:
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Why don't polar bears eat penguins in the wild?
(Polar bears live at the North Pole, and penguins live at the South Pole);
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In which month does chatty Svetochka speak the least?
(In February – the shortest month);
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What belongs to you, but others use it more often than you?
(Your name);
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How can we find last year's snow?
(Go outside right after the start of the New Year);
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What is considered dirty when it is white, and clean when it is green?
(A blackboard).
Having analyzed the responses of the interviewees also created a diagram and came to the following conclusions. Teenagers who learn foreign languages intensely have better logical thinking than those who do not learn them a lot. English teachers were answering these questions with more success rather than those who teach other subjects. At the same time the group of adults without the knowledge of a foreign language (23%) was a little better at answering these qustions than teenagers learning the language intensely (20%). It could mean that the age also plays an important role in this process.
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Some tips to improve your memory with the help of language learning
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There are also some special techniques exist that can help us to succeed in learning new languages and rremembering information.
One poplarmethod that many people use to help them remember things is called mnemonics. It's an unusual spelling-from the Greek word for remember mnemonics. In the mnemonic method, people use rhymes, clues, mental pictures, acronyms, etc., to help them associate the new information with fixed information that they already know. This fixed information helps them to recognize the new information and, as we have seen, recognition is easier than recall.
The second memory technique is personalizing. Personalizing is based on the idea that we remember best the things that interest us the most. This works for people because they are using personal information that is important to them to aid in remembering a bit of information that may not be as important or personal.
The third technique, and probably the most important technique is organization. Organization is the major key to remembering. Have you ever studied a foreign language and tried to memorize a vocabulary list of unrelated words? It's very difficult to do. One way to make it easier is to rearrange the words so that they have some logical organization. The point is this: our memories are not random. We do not effectively store memories randomly, as lists with no meaning. We can better organize information, when it is meaningful.
Conclusion
In the conclusion we can state that the human brain is astonishing. Its ability to grow and change based on the knowledge and experience humans have means that it is constantly altering itself to suit its own needs better. And language learning is one of the most beneficial means to the brain development.
The studies suggest the knowledge of two and more languages improves the brain’s executive function. It helps to stay focused ignoring the distractions, switching attention willfully from one thing to another and holding information in mind. Learning another language is one of the most effective and practical ways to increase intelligence and keep your mind sharp.
The purpose of this work was reached due to the conducted survey. It proved the fact that people learning and teaching a foreign language have better memory and logical skills rather than those who do not study the second language. In other words learning a foreign language has beneficial effects on people’s brain and memory.
Language learning boosts different skills such as communication, creativity, recall and concentration. Learning another language also boosts student literacy, which gives learners an advantage in core school subjects like mathematics and science. Speaking a second language can help to improve students’ ability to see things from another perspective. In turn, this can have a positive impact on their communication skills. In addition, the practice of academic skills involved in language study, such as active listening, can improve learners’ communication skills in their everyday lives. Bilingual children exhibit more creativity in problem-solving and flexibility than their monolingual peers. Language learning skills will help learners in all areas of their lives, improving their mental abilities, and helping them with problem-solving and decision–making. Ultimately, this all goes towards enriching their personal, social and professional relationships.
So, whether you’re a learner or a teacher of other languages, you’re building skills, exercising your brain and building your cognitive reserves every time you speak a second language.
List of references
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10 Удивительных фактов об изучении иностранных языков | Артем Ивин - Английский язык | Дзен (dzen.ru)
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https://artaulysiahaan.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/facts-and-opinions-about-language-learning/
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https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/how-language-shapes-the-brain/
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https://doublespeakdojo.com/this-is-how-language-learning-affects-the-brain/#How_Learning_a_New_Language_Structurally_ Alters _the_Brain
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https://doublespeakdojo.com/this-is-how-language-learning-affects-the-brain/# Language_Learning_And_Its_Effect_on_Brain_Size
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https://doublespeakdojo.com/this-is-how-language-learning-affects-the-brain/# The_Role_of_Age_in_Language_Learning
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https://dzen.ru/media/popsci/udivitelnye-metamorfozy-mozga-kotorye-proishodiat-u-liudei-izuchaiuscih-inostrannyi-iazyk-615194a5c7b9ee24 276ee556
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https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/resource-centre/content/how-learning-languages-affects-our-brain
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https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2018/how-second-language-can-boost-brain#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20learning%20a, such%20as%20for%20working%20memory
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