7 reasons for your child to learn a new language.
English may be the world’s lingua franca, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning another language or at least giving your children the opportunity to acquire that all-important second language.
Aside from the benefits of communication, more and more studies show the benefits of learning a second language as a child. According to research, you don’t have to be bilingual to reap some of these benefits. So, if your child learns or is exposed to more than one language, you will see results.
This is good news for parents who are not bilingual themselves but want their children to reap some of the benefits of learning a second language.
So, here’s why it’s worthwhile:
Boosts brain power
Learning a second language is incredibly good for the brain, academically speaking.
Some of the cognitive benefits of learning a second language may be due to the fact that the brains of bilingual and multilingual children develop more densely, as researchers studying brain densities of bilingual people discovered.
Andrea Mechelli of London’s Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience and her colleagues (including experts from the Fondazione Santa Lucia in Rome) discovered that bilingual speakers had denser gray matter than monolingual study participants in a brain imaging study.
They Can Communicate With More People
Most people regret not learning another language, particularly when it limits their ability to communicate with whomever they choose. Adults may find it increasingly difficult to learn a second language. However, because of their brain’s desperate need to absorb information, it is much easier for children.
Overall, there are numerous reasons why your child should learn another language, but one of the most important is to be able to communicate with the rest of the world. Yes, knowing another language can open doors to friendships and relationships that they might not have had otherwise.
Children that speak more than one language are better at “putting themselves in other people’s shoes” and understanding different perspectives. To speak another language requires not only language skills, but also the ability to understand the other speaker’s perspective.
Increased children’s understanding of his or her native language
Learning a second language improves English language skills. Learning another language enables students to gain a better understanding of how language works in general and to become more aware of their native tongue (grammar, conjugations, sentence structures, etc.)
Studies have found that bilingual children understand better than monolingual students the visual representation of print materials.
Boost Their Academic Achievement
The cognitive benefits of learning a language have a direct impact on a child’s academic achievement. Compared to those without an additional language, bilingual children have improved reading, writing, and math skills, and they generally score higher on standardized tests.
If your child learns two languages in early childhood a whole host of cognitive abilities will improve, making the brain more adept at switching between tasks, focusing in a busy environment, and remembering things. Also, your child’s critical thinking is increased along with their ability to transfer skills across languages.
It Can Open The Door To Other Languages
The more languages you know, the easier it is to learn newer ones. That’s right, once your kid has a second language under their belt, they may want to pursue another one.
Bilingualism facilitates intercultural communication. Children who speak more than one language have the opportunity to become more culturally aware and to better understand and appreciate cultural differences, which allows them to be more open to different ways of thinking and to experience the world through “new eyes.” Bilingual children can communicate with people who speak different languages and have access to more resources from other countries.
They Will Get A Better Job
One of the most beneficial reasons to learn another language is the career opportunities that it will provide in the future.
The ability to communicate in more than one language is becoming increasingly important in today’s global world. When applying for a job, bilingual candidates have an advantage over other candidates because they can present themselves as valuable potential employees with skills that employers may find invaluable.
Makes the world a better place for our children
In our increasingly diverse society, people from different countries and cultures must develop tools to communicate effectively with each other.
Learning another language is not only beneficial academically, but it is also extremely beneficial socially. That’s right, being able to speak a different language is extremely impressive and can quickly make your children very popular.
What Can You Do to Assist Your Child?
Whether you are bilingual or this is your first time learning another language, your assistance will be invaluable to your child’s success. You do not need to be fluent in the language your child is learning to foster an encouraging and active learning environment. Provide as many opportunities for authentic experiences as possible, and take advantage of the many online tools and resources at your disposal.
Want to set up a language program for your child? Perhaps this summer break is the perfect time for him or her to start studying a new language. Learn how you and other parents can start giving your children a better future.
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