Why Bilingualism? – Benefits
- Has a positive effect on intellectual growth and enriches and enhances a child’s mental development
- Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening
- Improves a child’s understanding of his/her native language
- Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know
- Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries
- Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college
- Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.
(from Center for Applied Linguistics)
- Heritage learners who use their language skills to interpret for family members experience higher academic performance and greater self efficacy
- There is evidence that early language learning improves cognitive skills
- There is a correlation between bilingualism and intelligence/metalinguistic skills/memory skills/problem solving ability/improved verbal and spatial abilities
(from American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages)
For more information on benefits, please continue reading my blog!
