When I read the title of a recent New York Times article, "The Benefits of Bilingualism", I wonder what is new now. I already know speaking two languages makes you smart, at least appearing to be smart. Apparently, bilingualism enhances your skills that are not even related to language.
Several studies has discovered that bilingual brains are better at executive function, compared to monolingual brains. Bilinguals are able to filter distraction (supressing one language, for example), pay close attention to the target problem, and switch focus from one aspect to another (switching between two languages, for example). Moreover, bilingual brains do these demanding task at ease. My understanding is that such tasks, like many of our day-to-day tasks, might overwhelm a monolingual brain but doesn't affect the efficiency of the bilingual brain.
Now, that is pretty brainy. If you are inspired to study another language after reading the above, your drive to be bilingual will just be stronger after you learn the explanation behind these advantages of bilingualism. Not only bilinguals manage their own cognitive commend system more efficiently, they do so through monitoring their environment.
Last but not least (and to me, the most powerful point), bilingual abilities benefit both people who learn a second language at a later age and those who have early exposre. I guess, my conclusion is why wait, any time to learn a language is a good time.
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