Monolingual vs bilingual3/31/2023 In other words, bilingual kids develop stronger literacy skills. This is known as biliteracy, or “ the ability to read and write in two or more languages.”īiliteracy is explained by bilingual children’s greater phonological awareness and vocabulary memorization.Īdditionally, reading skills are transferable. This means that if English is L1 and Spanish is L2, the proficiency in both languages is enhanced by learning a second language. Literacy AcquisitionĪ study in bilingualism showed that “ knowledge of several different orthographies enhances L1 and L2 proficiency.” In other words, bilingualism does affect brain development, but in a positive way. Studies showed that “ higher proficiency in a second language correlates with higher gray matter volume in the left inferior parietal cortex.” Researchers have found that bilingualism “ may alter the neurological structures” and affect how they process information. If you’re worried about what bilingualism can do for brain development, don’t! Upgrades Your Child’s Neurological Structures The human mind isn’t like an empty warehouse with limited space to fill but more like a flexible balloon that expands itself as you keep adding knowledge to it. This results in bilingual kids having a higher vocabulary range than children that only speak their native language. Higher Vocabulary Rangeĭue to learning a second language, bilingual students tend to be exposed to more words in both languages than monolingual children. Learning about a different culture also benefits essential developing skills such as empathy, tolerance, and an open mind to the world and other cultures. This biculturalism develops in children “ a strong sense of their cultural identity” and an interest in cultural events.īut unfortunately, monocultural kids don’t share the same interest. She’s also adventuring into a whole new culture. When your child learns French, English or Spanish at Bilingual Bebe or Spanish at Homeschool Spanish Academy, she isn’t learning only grammar and spelling. Learning a new language is learning a new culture. Heighten Cultural Intelligence and Open-Mindedness Researchers have shown that “ bilingual students usually have stronger working memories and attention spans.” These are two of the main cognitive benefits of bilingualism and skills that directly influence academic results and behavioral progress. However, modern studies have shown that that’s simply not true and that quite the opposite happens. In the past, linguists and psychologists believed that learning a second language could slow down the development of children. Stronger Working Memories and Attention Spans So, if you want to help your child at school, considering a second language such as Spanish or French can be an excellent choice. Research has shown that bilingual children outperform monolingual ones in test scores and their reading and writing abilities.īilingual kids also have better attendance at school, fewer behavioral problems, and higher involvement from parents. Increases School Engagement and Academic Success Let’s now explore some of the main advantages of bilingualism, including social and cognitive benefits and career advantages, and other culturally essential benefits. Here are seven advantages bilingual children have over monolinguals. Their flexible and easy-to-use systems have earned the trust of tens of thousands of families. There are many benefits to bilingualism, multilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy.īilingual Bebe and Homeschool Spanish Academy understood this a long time ago and have been offering families in the US and worldwide the opportunity to raise bilingual children. The real question is-as you’ll see in a minute-why not? That’s why bilingual education institutions such as Bilingual Bebe and Homeschool Spanish Academy have become so popular in the last few years. Although different sources give different numbers, it’s estimated that over half of the global population is bilingual.Īs globalization became a reality, the advantages of being bilingual have become more evident than ever before. In the US alone, over 13 million kids, or 24% of the children in the country, speak a language other than English at home-Spanish being the most common one. More and more people are raising bilingual or multilingual children in today’s society. Perhaps you have seen other parents trying bilingualism at home, and it makes you wonder if you should try it too? Have you ever thought about raising a bilingual child?
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