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What are the benefits of learning a second language?
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Bilinguals who learn two languages from birth are referred to as simultaneous bilinguals, and those who learn a first language followed by a second language—whether as toddlers or as adults—are referred to as sequential bilinguals. The evidence points to fairly robust advantages for simultaneous bilinguals relative to sequential bilinguals.
- Young Children Learning Spanish Make Rapid Use of Grammatical Gender in Spoken Word Recognition
The observed asymmetries between adult first- and...
- Foreign-language Experience in Infancy
On this view, infants are better than adults at acquiring a...
- Pmc2900386
Kohnert K, Windsor J, Ebert K. Primary or “specific”...
- Real-Time Processing of Gender-Marked Articles by Native and Non-Native Spanish Speakers
Three experiments using online processing measures explored...
- Young Children Learning Spanish Make Rapid Use of Grammatical Gender in Spoken Word Recognition
Jan 28, 2019 · Up until the age of 8, young learners benefit from flexible ear and speech muscles that can detect differences between the sounds of a second language. If youth can learn multiple languages, why not teach them?
May 12, 2009 · Teaching young children how to speak a second language is good for their minds, report two Cornell linguistic researchers. Learning a second language does not cause language confusion, language delay or cognitive deficit, which have been concerns in the past.
How a second language can boost the brain. Being bilingual benefits children as they learn to speak — and adults as they age. Even when you’re fluent in two languages, it can be a challenge to switch back and forth smoothly between them.
- Take advantage of the easiest time to learn a foreign language. Children’s minds are like sponges when it comes to language learning. Research has reflected that humans have a “critical period” for learning new languages.
- Enjoy cognitive benefits. Studies have shown that people who can speak more than one language are better at multi-tasking and focusing their attention than monolinguals.
- Foster a global mindset. Language and culture are very deeply intertwined. Therefore, when a child learns another language, they gain a cultural awareness and a deeper insight into how people from that culture see the world.
- Access global information, media, and cultures. In our digital world, much of the information and media children consume is in English. While there are benefits to this, it also means that children who only speak English are missing out on a wealth of information and cultural experiences that are only available in other languages.
What slows cognitive decline in old age, increases earning potential throughout adulthood, and is best started in early childhood? Learning a second (or third!) language. For decades, educators, researchers, and policy makers across the United States engaged in heated debates about how to ensure English proficiency.
When we’re asked why a child should learn a second language, we explain that a significant advantage for many families in learning a language connected to their history, is that it deepens their connection to one another, their extended family, and their heritage.
