| It is no mystery that the secret to preventing | | | | repeat back the word or phrase and at the same |
| memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's disease is to | | | | time your mind has to translate the meaning of |
| ensure your brain stays active throughout your life. | | | | words from and to your native language. Add |
| Largely fueled by the concerns and fears of the | | | | memorization, listening, reading and writing to the list |
| aging baby boomers, there is a thriving business | | | | and your brain will feel the workout. |
| surrounding this topic and you can now find | | | | Two, you must use sight, sound and speech to |
| numerous books, articles, games, courses, websites | | | | properly speak and understand a new language. |
| and other products dedicated to helping you maintain | | | | Although speech is not one of the five senses, it |
| a healthy and properly functioning brain. | | | | does require the brain to interpret and organize the |
| Luckily, this is not all just hype and there has been | | | | information from the other senses and to formulate |
| extensive scientific research surrounding this topic. A | | | | a response using motor-skills thereby exceeding |
| quick internet search will fetch you volumes of | | | | criteria number two. |
| information on related studies so I won't go into | | | | Three, If you only speak one language than it is |
| technical detail here except to summarize that | | | | probably safe to assume that learning a new |
| findings show that when the brain is stimulated to | | | | language would not be a routine activity for you. |
| produce new neural pathways (connections between | | | | Even if you already speak multiple languages, each |
| brain cells) on a continuous basis, throughout your life, | | | | new language brings new concepts and challenges to |
| the brain will continue to grow and improve. | | | | the brain. |
| Neurologists have reported that by spending only 20 | | | | Besides the obvious benefit of brain longevity, |
| minutes, 3 times a week, practicing mental exercises | | | | learning a new language will provide other benefits |
| you can reduce your chances of developing | | | | such as confidence when travelling to the country |
| Alzheimer's disease by 70%. And so, what is an | | | | where your new language is spoken and perhaps it |
| effective brain exercise? It has been discovered that | | | | could even open doors for certain careers. |
| for a brain exercise to be beneficial it needs to meet | | | | There are many ways to learn a new language |
| three criteria; one, it needs to engage your attention, | | | | ranging from formal classroom style courses to |
| two, it must involve more than one of the senses | | | | self-paced video, audio or online computer courses. |
| (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste), and three, it must | | | | My personal preference is online computer courses |
| break a routine activity in an unexpected, nontrivial | | | | mainly because when cleverly designed, they are |
| way.[1] | | | | highly interactive, entertaining and transportable (that |
| Learning a new language is recognized as being a | | | | is if you have a laptop or access to multiple |
| highly effective brain exercise because it strongly | | | | computers). A well designed computer based |
| meets and even exceeds all three of these criteria. | | | | language courses will offer a variety of learning |
| One, you must focus intently to make progress in | | | | techniques such as audio, video, text, games and |
| your lessons thus making your brain work | | | | quizzes providing an even greater opportunity to flex |
| strenuously. You have to listen to a word or phrase, | | | | your brain muscles. |