Learning a language has a lot of benefits, including making you more tolerant

Dec 13, 2016

Joy Cheng, a foreign exchange student from Taipei, Taiwan, listens to her junior high science teacher at Grant-Deuel School in Revillo, South Dakota February 13, 2012. This year, 11 students from China, Thailand, Germany and elsewhere account for nearly 20% of high school enrollment, bringing cash and a welcome splash of diversity to an isolated patch of the Great Plains. Grant-Deuel is not alone. Across the United States, public high schools in struggling small towns are putting their empty classroom seats up for sale. Picture taken February 13. To match Insight USA-SCHOOLS/FOREIGN REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES - Tags: EDUCATION SOCIETY) - RTR2Z0K8

Learning a new language may make you more tolerant towards other people. Image: REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES - Tags: EDUCATION SOCIETY) - RTR2Z0K8

Amy Thompson

Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of South Florida

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