Language education offers a variety of social benefits, from making new friends to fostering cross-cultural connections. Because the risk of isolation in retirement is so substantial and poses both emotional and tangible physical consequences, it’s never too late to start your next linguistic journey. Whether you’re hoping to ignite new friendships or simply counteract some of the effects of aging, language has plenty to offer.
Understanding the Social Landscape in Retirement
For many, retirement is an exciting prospect—doing whatever you want whenever you want? Sounds great! However, few consider that with retirement comes other challenges. Whether due to a decrease in mobility, friends moving away (or passing away), or simply fewer excuses to leave the house, people become increasingly isolated as they get older.
In fact, data show that a whopping one in three adults over the age of 60 suffers from loneliness that significantly impacts their daily life and mental well-being. One in four adults in this same age group meets the criteria for complete social isolation.
This is a troubling situation, to be sure, but there are more consequences than simply a profound sadness at being alone. Studies indicate that retirees who consistently suffer from loneliness and isolation face an all-cause mortality risk that is 26% greater than those who retain social connections. Similarly, they’re more prone to strokes and coronary artery disease (30% more likely) and an increase in rates of dementia (50% higher).
Why does all this matter in the context of learning a language? As it turns out, few tools are as effective as language when it comes to keeping people connected—and, by extension, prolonging their lives in a fruitful way. If you can speak another language, you’ve got more opportunities to build a community and enjoy enriching facets of other cultures; this can lower stress, decrease anxiety, and even improve depressive symptoms.
Language as the Premier Tool to Combat Isolation
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth learning a new language in retirement, the answer is a resounding yes! If your brain were a muscle, language would be the weights that bulk up your white matter—the material responsible for everything from critical thinking to pattern recognition.
However, it’s not just about the physical effects. Learning a language protects against isolation and its harmful consequences, but it also offers enrichment that makes life a lot more pleasant, no matter your age.
Diverse Connections
Ever wondered what life is like in other places around the world? By learning a new language, you can find out. Foreign cultures are more accessible than ever when you can speak, read, and listen to a second (or third, or fourth…) language, which helps you cultivate diverse connections the world over.
Imagine enjoying an international movie that’s never been translated into your native tongue! You might have missed out if you hadn’t studied a new language (and even if you didn’t catch all the details, it was probably still fun!). Perhaps you now have the knowledge required to enjoy food at restaurants that haven’t translated their menus into English. No matter what connections you choose to pursue with your new linguistic skills, you’ll be forging bonds that get you up and ready to experience the world.
Of course, you’ll likely pick up new friends along the way. Either in-person or online, these new acquaintances can significantly open up opportunities to talk (and, if they’re international, that could mean companionship both day and night). This is especially valuable to housebound retirees, as such international bonds do not require them to get outdoors at all.
Support and Community
Connection with others is pivotal in a person’s later years, and speaking another language is the gateway to broadening your connections and your circle of friends. While many may be international and spend time with you virtually, do not forget the power of your local community.
Can you attend cultural celebrations in your city that have been opened up to you now that you speak a new language? Participation in groups different than your own creates a vast and encompassing network of friends, acquaintances, work partners, and more. It is this “village” that has helped to keep people safe and healthy for thousands of years. The next time you need someone to check in on you because you don’t feel well, you’ll know that you’ve made a diverse group of companions who are ready to step up.
In short, learning a new language is the first step in taking your retirement from an insular and lonely experience to one that enriches you with experiences, knowledge, and friendship from around the globe. This exciting opportunity not only keeps you energized about the many possibilities that await—it also helps you live a longer, fuller life.
