Yes! It would
appear so. If you are bilingual, you
will in fact find it easier to learn a third language, as you will have gained
a better aptitude in languages whilst learning the second one.
A study was
conducted in 2011 between students who were fluent in only one language and
students who knew two languages. Both
groups were given tests that assessed their reading strategies and familiarity
with the orthography of each language. Bilinguals obtained a higher average than the monolinguals.
What does this mean?
When an
individual speaks more than one language, he or she improves proficiency in
native languages. When you learn another language, it normally requires you to
gain more knowledge in you native language. Concepts such as “past simple”,
“passive”, “present progressive” become clearer to somebody who knows another
language. Other phonologic, morphologic
and syntactic tools are reinforced too.
How do I learn a third language without mixing it up
with the second?
I personally
think that the best method to retain any language, whether it is the second or
the third, is practise, practise and more practise! It is important not to mix
languages up so learning how to separate them is favourable. A good tip is to spend a few hours a week
doing something in your second or third language. I consider that reading is
also a very important factor in the learning process.
It goes without
saying that speaking a second language helps you in the learning process of a
third language, but it also depends on the language. Japanese would obviously
be considerably harder for English speakers than learning Spanish!
Emma Milnthorpe
