Why Bilingual and Multicultural Education
The value of an interdisciplinary, bilingual, and multicultural education goes far beyond learning an additional language.
When more than half the world’s population is bilingual, mastering a second language is a vital step towards joining the global community.
Bilingual Benefits
Cognitive Advantages
Children who begin language immersion at a young age benefit from:
- Increased mental flexibility (source)
- More efficient use of the brain (source)
- Higher willingness to learn a third language, and and an increased analytical orientation to language (source)
- Perform higher on verbal standardized tests conducted in English, plus higher in math and logic skills than children with just one language (The College Board, 2003)
Social / Emotional / Interpersonal Advantages
Learning a second language aids children in:
- Building self-esteem, creativity, problem-solving skills, and math abilities (source)
- Maintaining a strong sense of their own identity while developing sensitivity towards other people and cultures (source)
- A head start in competition for universities and jobs; individuals proficient in multiple languages and at ease in multiple cultures have more opportunities (source)
Additional Resources
- Watch Ted talk on the benefits of the bilingual brain
- The Benefits of Bilingualism (New York Times)
- The Superior Social Skills of Bilinguals (New York Times)
- The Power of the Bilingual Brain (Time Magazine)
- Achtung, Baby: New Approach to Languages (WSJ)
- National Network for Early Language Learning