Researchers at Penn State have been looking at some of the world’s most biologically rich areas, termed ‘biodiversity hotspots’, in a study part-funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council.

They have found that, just as these areas are abundant in different species, they also often have large numbers of unique languages with very few surviving speakers.

Many linguists expect as many as 90% of the world’s languages to be extinct by 2100, while biologists believe animal and plant species are currently going extinct 1,000 times faster than has historically been the case.

“What ends up happening when we lose linguistic diversity is we lose a bunch of small groups with traditional economics,” says Penn State associate professor of landscape architecture Larry J Gorenflo.

In turn, as non-indigenous languages invade an area, technologies such as chainsaws typically increase in their presence, putting biodiversity conservation at risk.

While these areas are a long distance from our language school Manchester residents attend on a weekly basis, it’s interesting to know the connection between linguistic diversity, and the protection of some of the world’s rarest species.

Viorica Marian of Northwestern University in the US looked at the effects of bilingualism on the brain, across several different areas of cognition.

The research team discovered benefits for sound encoding in the brain, inhibition and attention – and they’re automatic benefits that might come from learning a second language as a child, or from the language classes Manchester’s grown-up language-learners attend.

“People do crossword puzzles and other activities to keep their minds sharp,” says the researcher.

“But the advantages we’ve discovered in dual-language speakers come automatically, simply from knowing and using two languages.”

Future studies are now planned to check whether these benefits can be gained later in life by learning a second language as an adult.

However, the conclusions made in the current study of bilingual teenagers add to the wealth of recent evidence suggesting there are several brain benefits to learning a second language.

In addition to the sessions that take place in our Wilmslow Road language school Manchester’s la Academia students also experience real-world interaction in their chosen tongue, with excursions and practical activities to provide a well-rounded learning experience.

This could do more than just help you to pick up a second language faster, as research from the Valencian Universities Network for the Promotion of Research, Development and Innovation (RUVID) suggests.

In a study on trilingual children – specifically those learning English, Spanish and Catalan together from a young age – the researchers found that the youngsters made faster progress in terms of speech sophistication than single-language kids.

For example, rather than saying “come and play”, you might expect them to say something like “let’s go, and if you would like to, we can play, OK?” – a much more complex structure for a small child.

Researcher Maria Pilar Safont Jorda says it is important to get real-world experience in order to learn a language with this kind of complexity.

“It is also essential for it to be present both in the context of teaching in schools [and through exposure to] films, cartoons, stories etc,” she claims.

At our language school Manchester’s adult learners can replace the learning experiences of young children on the continent with visits to foreign-language film festivals and musical performances – whatever language you are planning to learn.

A recent article in the scientific journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences notes the benefits of bilingualism on the adult brain – extending previous studies on how multiple languages can help children with their cognitive development.

In the case of adults, being able to speak or understand more than one language has two major advantages for the brain.

Firstly, trying to decide which language to use triggers parts of the brain normally associated with attention spans, potentially improving concentration for bilingual speakers.

Secondly, speaking multiple languages has been linked with protecting brain functions in later years – and has associations with delaying the onset of dementia.

“It should not be surprising that intense and sustained experience leaves its mark on our minds and brains, and it is now clear that the bilingual brain has been uniquely shaped by experience,” says lead study author Dr Ellen Bialystok of York University.

The findings add a new element to the language classes Manchester’s would-be bilingualists attend on a regular basis, and make learning a second language a compelling prospect for anyone keen to remain mentally alert into their later years.

But research now suggests that this approach might also be beneficial for the way you think about all sorts of things, from your ability to plan, to your attention span.

These abilities, along with strategising and organising, all fall under the general heading of ‘executive functioning’ – something bilingual people may be better at, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

In a study of bilingual and single-language children, participants were asked to hit a button depending on whether a computer screen showed them an animal or a colour.

Both groups performed equally well when the images were all in one category – but when the display switched between the two, bilingual children were faster to adapt.

At the la Academia language school Manchester’s residents have their language classes complemented by practical activities and excursions, helping you to develop natural speech rather than a word-by-word internal translation.

We do this because we know it works – but you could find your thought processes become a bit more polished in unexpected ways, too!

We can take a look at any official documentation you may have, and help you to understand your commitments when planning an international move.

According to news agency Reuters, such a relocation has become increasingly popular with individuals in high-stress jobs since the economic turbulence began.

One, 58-year-old Gary Langton, left his job as global head of loan syndications at UniCredit to open a bed and breakfast in an old silk farm in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

Previously, during the worst parts of the turbulent economic times, Mr Langton had taken to telling people he was a teacher, due to the hatred of bankers that he saw on a daily basis.

Whether your career has hit an obstacle due to the economy, or you simply want a change of pace or an international adventure, our French translation services can help at the outset, while we also offer a French course Manchester residents can use to pick up the language they’ll need on the continent.

In many cases it’s about learning another country’s native language for convenience, to make sure you can place simple orders at bars and restaurants while on holiday.

But for overseas students who attend the language classes Manchester’s tuition providers offer, it’s a step towards a new career – and that can help some to stay in the UK after graduation.

With English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes, overseas students struggling to understand their studies can give themselves a better chance of scoring well in tests and examinations, as well as preparing for job interviews if they choose to stay in the UK after university ends.

Communities minister Andrew Stunell announced £10 million of funding earlier this month for schemes to improve the English of non-native speakers of the language, noting the benefits of doing so in comments made at the time.

“This fund will help to release people from the prison of not being conversant in English, give them access to the jobs market, build their self-esteem and help build relations within communities,” he said.

Simply being able to order food and drink in non-tourist parts of Spain is reason enough for many people to learn the second language, while others may have ancestral roots in a Spanish-speaking country.

But new research hints at one possible result of Spanish classes Manchester’s bilingual speakers may not have noticed – the potential to boost your brainpower.

The study, carried out by the group of cognition and brain plasticity at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, focuses particularly on bilingual Spanish-Catalan speakers but is based on a questionnaire that has been used in language research in other parts of the world, including English-French bilingual areas of Canada.

Antoni Rodriguez-Fornells, study leader, says: “The ability to change from one language to another very quickly may be positive – some even say creative – and could be transferred to other cognitive functions and make the brain more flexible.”

By attending Spanish classes or French lessons Manchester’s population may yet find they are able to boost their own brain’s ability to adapt – while still being able to order lunch during their next holiday.

Back in 794AD, coins issued by King Offa of Mercia hinted at connections between Islamic cultures and Great Britain.

In Manchester itself, known for its cotton and textiles, there were at least four Arabic trading houses by 1798, according to Manchester City Council.

As such, by attending Arabic lessons Manchester learners can gain skills that have served local businesses for over 200 years or more.

Of course, there is still a significant Muslim population in the city – around 136,000, according to the 2001 census – making the language as useful today as it was in the past.

There’s no better time to start picking up a local historical language, as late February sees the city host Manchester Histories Festival.

Due to take place between February 24th and March 4th, the festival looks back at times past in Manchester, and provides the perfect foundation for picking up new skills to carry forwards with you into the future.

So we know how important it can be to be able to speak the language while you’re in a foreign country – particularly if you’re away from the main tourist areas.

Recent research highlights this; carried out by a team from the Free University of Brussels and the Dallas-based Southern Methodist University, the study found 63% of EU citizens cannot speak English.

However, 20% can speak or understand French, and 25% have a similar level of German understanding.

“People identify strongly with their language, which is integral to culture and traditions,” says Shlomo Weber of Southern Methodist University. “Language is so explosive; language is so close to how you feel.”

With our language classes Manchester residents – and those of spending a few months here as part of your own globe-trotting adventure – can empower yourselves in the same way, breaking down one of the main barriers to getting out there and exploring the world.