What in the World

Why speaking multiple languages is good for your brain


Listen Later

Most people in the world speak more than one language and many countries have more than one official national language. But what is it like living as a polyglot? And what advantages can it bring to your health? Studies have shown that speakers of multiple languages get dementia later and even recover better after a stroke.

BBC journalist Victoria Uwonkunda describes what it was like growing up as a polyglot and how she deals with speaking multiple languages in her daily life. Turkish polyglot İclal Dağcı , who speaks nine languages, tells us how she uses music to learn languages she finds difficult.

Plus, Professor Frédérique Liégeois, a cognitive neuroscientist at University College London, explains the benefits speaking multiple languages has on your brain, and how it could help to maintain your brain health as you get older.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, William Lee Adams, Mora Morrison, Emilia Jansson and Elena Angelides
Video Journalists: Beatrice Guzzardi and Adam Chowdhury
Editor: Verity Wilde

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

What in the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

16 ratings


More shows like What in the World

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

523 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

296 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

Learning English Vocabulary by BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

503 Listeners

Learning English Stories by BBC Radio

Learning English Stories

368 Listeners

Learning English Grammar by BBC Radio

Learning English Grammar

311 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

965 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

471 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

238 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

394 Listeners

Learning English For Work by BBC News

Learning English For Work

41 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

30 Listeners