It might have appeared to be the most pointless subject in high school and college, but new research shows that knowing a foreign language slows down the effects of aging.

The research was presented in the June issue of the medical journal “Psychology and Aging” and was reported by WebMD. The news article states, “People who were bilingual most of their lives were better able to stay focused on a task amidst a rapidly changing environment compared with people who only spoke one language.”

The study also measured “brain thinking processes known to decline with age.” The conclusion was that regardless of age, participants of the experiment who spoke two languages performed better at processing information than those who spoke just one.

Granted, this is not breakthrough research. These findings will not change the world, nor will it inspire the world’s leaders to learn more languages and eventually attain world peace.

However, this information does bring up a salient point: apart from the mental benefits of becoming bilingual, knowing a second language will help one broaden his or her horizons and understand different cultures.

The essence of one’s culture exists in its language. It is the constant through which a culture develops and thrives. Any foreign language class will make this point evident to its students.

Plus, the United States does have diversity in language. While English is our primary language, a sizable minority relies on Spanish as a main language. Our northern neighbors in Canada have several French-speaking citizens, mainly in Quebec.

The study’s findings also strengthens the argument by proponents of bilingual education. Students who do not comprehend English tend to be classified as illiterate. Programs which help these students understand English as well as retaining their native language skills will improve the quality of their education.

Likewise, perhaps English-speaking students ought to be exposed to foreign languages early on in their education. Many places begin teaching French or Spanish in high school.

Our society is littered with flashy advertisements and distracting messages. The new study has concluded that people who speak two languages are “less distracted by unnecessary information.”

Unilateralism is a dangerous frame of mind in which to operate. A smart way to avoid this pitfall is to take those foreign language classes a little more seriously.