Alcohol might help people speak foreign languages more fluently

A study by the University of Bath found that German students who consumed a modest amount of alcohol performed better when speaking Dutch, compared to those who drank only water.

Their pronunciation was smoother, and their confidence higher, suggesting that alcohol reduced language anxiety and allowed them to speak more freely.

The experiment involved 50 German students who were asked to engage in conversation in Dutch after drinking either water or a vodka and lemon mix equivalent to one glass of wine.
Native Dutch speakers who listened to the recordings, without knowing who drank what, rated the alcohol group as significantly more fluent.

Co-author Dr Inge Kersbergen told The Times: “While our study highlights how a small amount of alcohol may reduce language anxiety, I would not recommend that anyone use alcohol to improve their fluency in a second language. To me, the real takeaway is how complex and fascinating the psychological processes are that support communication in a second language.”
The researchers cautioned that excessive drinking could have the opposite effect and impair speaking skills.

While a shot of vodka won’t replace language lessons, this research suggests that a small drink might just help unlock your inner polyglot by calming nerves and boosting confidence.

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