While we are very proud to be developing our students' English skills in all four language domains (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), it is important for us to recognize the value in maintaining students' home languages. Did you know that being bilingual (or multilingual) has some amazing benefits?
1. Being bilingual has positive effects on the brain! Studies show that being bilingual has cognitive benefits, such as having a better attention span and being able to multi-task better than monolinguals. Bilingualism can also reduce the risk of having a stroke and less cognitive decline as one ages. Children as young as seven months who are exposed to more than one language tend to adjust better to changes in their environment. 2. Bilingualism gives you an educational advantage! Many of the cognitive benefits mentioned above can also mean that bilinguals have an advantage at school or further education. Many studies show that those who speak another language are more likely to be less distracted and more focused on tasks. Even bilingual children who are educated in their second language have been seen to outperform monolingual students in their native language! 3. Languages are highly valued in the workplace Speaking another language has many employment benefits. Being bilingual means that there are more job opportunities. Communication in the workplace is important, and more companies are considering bilingualism a high priority. 4. Being bilingual has been linked to health benefits There have been many studies proving that being bilingual can benefit your health. Researchers recently found that there is growing evidence to suggest that bilingualism can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Other benefits of being bilingual include things such as a faster stroke recover and lower stress levels. 5. Speaking more than one language makes you more open-minded! One of the benefits of being bilingual can mean that you see the world in different ways. Bilinguals are used to constant change. This means that they are usually less effected by changes in the environment, and more open-minded to new things and new experiences because they have more than one view of the world already. 6. Speaking a foreign language can be highly beneficial when you travel Being able to communicate with the locals and immersing yourself in the language and culture of your travel destination can make your travel experience so much more enjoyable! 7. Being bilingual opens up new social opportunities Bilinguals can make friends in more than one language, meaning more opportunities to meet new people and enjoy different hobbies and activities. Being able to communicate with people from other cultures can open up many opportunities in life. 8. Knowing more than one language helps you to learn additional languages An amazing benefit of being bilingual is that you can learn additional languages more easily than monolinguals. This is because language skills reinforce each other, so if you have learned a second language already, then learning a third means transferring those skills over. 9. Being bilingual means you can raise bilingual children What better advantage than being able to pass on your languages to your own children so they can gain the benefits of being bilingual, too! 10. You are not the minority if you are bilingual! Being bilingual means you are NOT the minority, as more than half the world speaks more than one language on a daily basis. In many countries, bilingualism is considered the norm. Everyone should have the chance to learn a second language and gain the benefits of being bilingual! Source: https://bilingualkidspot.com/2017/05/23/benefits-of-being-bilingual/
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AuthorThe Elementary ELL team! Archives
March 2019
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ELL Department | Blog |