Language is a complex and unique system that allows us to communicate with others. It also allows us to express how we feel, ideas we may have, and thoughts we are thinking. We don't just communicate through words, but also through body language and facial expressions. There are approximately 6,500 different languages ​​in the world (Ethnologue, 2019). Millions of people speak more than one language, while others only know their native language. We are referring to some people who are monolingual, while others are what we call bilinguals. What does it really mean to be monolingual and bilingual and what distinguishes these categories? How do we even determine whether someone is bilingual or not? How is bilingual different from second language acquisition? Brain activity is different in those who are bilingual compared to those who are monolingual. Finally, what are some benefits of being bilingual? These are all questions that I will try to answer in this article and I will do so using articles and research on this topic. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, let's look at what it means to be monolingual and bilingual. When we refer to an individual as monolingual, it means that he or she is able to speak and understand only one language. Bilingual, on the other hand, is when an individual is able to speak and understand two languages ​​fluently. However, there is a different definition of what it means to be bilingual. This mainly depends on what the different individual is referring to when he hears the word bilingual. If you asked me what bilingual means, I would say that a person is able to speak two languages ​​at the same level of proficiency. However, when you ask different researchers, they might give you different answers. A researcher often classifies people into different categories of bilingualism. There are five different categories of bilingualism. These categories are known as; native bilingual, simultaneous bilingual, sequential, early bilingual and late bilingual (Atagi, 2012). Native bilingual means that the individual can speak both languages ​​at the same level of native proficiency. Simultaneous bilingual refers to an individual who has learned languages ​​since birth. Sequential bilingualism, on the other hand, refers to when an individual learned both languages ​​during childhood, but learned one language first and then the other. Finally, we have early and late bilinguals, and this is distinguished based on when the individual learns a second language. Whether the individual learns it in early or late childhood. This can have an effect on how the individual will learn a second level. An example here can reflect on how school-age children in Norway start learning a second language at age 6, compared to Slovenia who start learning a language at age 9 (Delvin, 2015). These Norwegian children are therefore more likely to develop better understanding of the second language than Slovenian children. A child's learning a second language can have a great influence on their language development, understanding and fluency. Second, let's look at how a second language differs from being bilingual. Bilingual, as mentioned, means that the individual is able to speak two languages ​​at the same level of proficiency. Second language refers to an individual who has mastery of his or her native language and is learning a second language, but does not have the same level of proficiency as a native speaker of that particular language. In other words, this means that the individual will be able to speak and understand the language, but not without committinggrammatical errors while speaking. The speech may be fragmented and not so fluid. There is, however, a difference between second language learners and foreign language learners. When we talk about foreign language learners, we often refer to these individuals as someone who learns the language in educational settings. They will learn the basics of the language, such as grammar and words, but they will not learn the slang and street culture of the language like those studying a second language. Second language learners are also more surrounded by the language, which they will use in an everyday environment, while foreign language learners only use it in educational contexts or when travelling. When we look at the difference in brain activity between those who are bilingual versus those who are monolingual, we must first consider that humans are the only creators on earth who communicate through complex language. Other species also communicate, but their communication and language are not comparable to ours. It is often argued that there are some differences between those who are monolingual and those who are bilingual, and one of these differences concerns the way the brain is structured and its functions. Another topic is how bilinguals understand the information they receive differently than those who are monolingual. When a person is bilingual, they understand information at a level where both languages ​​are activated in the brain, even if they only speak one of the languages ​​at the time. One way the differences have been looked for is through imaging using an fMRI scanner. According to research conducted by Abutalebi et al. (2012), explained how the anterior cingulate cortex is important for the monitoring and control of languages. Further on it is stated that the way we understand and use different languages ​​depends on our competence. It is also claimed that bilinguals perform better than monolinguals at all stages of life on nonverbal executive control tasks. One method used to measure differences between monolinguals and bilinguals in linguistic and cognitive outcomes has been to use the Stroop effect. The Stroop effect is known as a way to measure “how powerful task-irrelevant stimuli can capture attention.” The result of this research showed that there was a difference between monolinguals and bilinguals, however the results were not significant. The cognitive difference only showed how these two groups processed salience and automaticity differently. In other words, how do they differ in switching and working memory (….). The article also talked about how bilinguals might differ from each other. They probably differ from each other in cognitive and social ways. They also differ in linguistic and educational terms. Another thing to mention is that when a bilingual processes information, both languages ​​are activated. It is activated when the individual reads, listens and speaks. And it is not affected by how well they speak both languages, regardless of the condition in which both languages ​​are activated. However, when using word recognition and production, one language is more active than another. The control system used to switch from one language to another is the same as those used for selective attention and non-verbal executive control tasks (….). What is really the difference between bilingual and monolingual brains? Let's first take a step back and look at the evolution of language. The language has changed a lot over the decades. Different languages ​​once existed between each tribe and group, and they still exist today, but just on another level. There are still tribes in,.