The ability to speak two languages can be a considerable advantage for kids.

Recent studies have even shown that bilingual children can be better at understanding other people’s thoughts and feelings. This helps them develop important social and emotional skills, as well as making them more efficient and attentive.

Plus, learning two or more languages as a kid can help them pick up even more languages later in life.

It’s not just about being able to speak multiple languages – it’s about unlocking a whole world of opportunities and developing skills that can set a child up for success in both their personal and professional lives. It opens up a whole new world of opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

 

Benefits of bilingualism

 

Some advantages of bilingual education for children are:

 

1.  It improves cognitive function

 

So being bilingual can actually make your brain work better. Bilingual kids can easily switch between languages, which helps them solve problems faster than their friends who only know one language.

Additionally, they can think through problem-solving approaches in both languages to develop creative solutions. Research also shows that bilingual children are better at noticing visual changes in their surroundings and focusing on different things at once.

There is now a sizable body of evidence to suggest that children who speak two languages are smarter, have better cognitive skills not related to language processing, and are more resistant to dementia and other age-related symptoms associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

2.  Bilingual students perform better academically

 

They do better in school too. A study at York University in Canada found that they’re good at processing language and weeding out irrelevant information. This ability associated with bilingualism results in better performance in school in general and improved grades in particular.

 

3. It improves social and emotional development

 

Speaking a second language or even just receptive bilingualism makes it easier for children to make new friends outside their linguistic communities. It helps them fit in with different groups and use both languages to connect with other children on an emotional level. This automatically improves their social skills and gives them the confidence to participate in social situations with ease.

 

4. It facilitates professional success

 

With English emerging as the dominant language in diverse fields such as international business, diplomacy, politics, science and technology, research, aviation, and even the internet, its use as a second language can boost your child’s professional success. From being able to communicate with colleagues and clients more effectively to articulating their ideas easily, English language skills are an absolute must in today’s globalised world.

Plus, loads of companies these days prefer employees who speak more than one language, especially when it comes to dealing with foreign clients.

 

5. It increases awareness of different cultures

 

When children learn a new language, they consume a lot of information about the culture it comes from through books, films, music, cuisines, and even humour. This helps them develop a deeper appreciation of other ways of life, making it easier to connect with people from all sorts of backgrounds.

 

6. Picking up a third language becomes easier

 

Once you’ve mastered two languages, picking up a third or fourth one becomes much easier. Research suggests that multilinguals are quicker at learning new languages than monolinguals because they can employ the brain processes they already use for their first two languages. So understanding how different languages work can help bilingual children learn more languages later in life.

 

7. It makes travel more fun

 

If you can speak the language of the country you are visiting, your travels can become that much more enjoyable, without the inconvenience of having to mime important questions to unsuspecting locals. Plus, with fluency in the English language, you will be able to travel to many countries around the world and interact with their populations since English is one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet.

 

 

 

 

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