Why Children Should be Bilingual
Learning a new language is never tedious because it is fun, eye-opening, and can increase one’s knowledge about other cultures. Speaking two or more languages is extremely beneficial to the brain as language fuels our minds, frames our emotions, and allows us to communicate in complex ways. Furthermore, in the era of globalized communications and international travel, being confined to only one language seems to be impractical. Thus, the necessity of developing a bilingual environment becomes essential, and more people should consider becoming bilingual.
Starting to learn a new language can be done at any time, though it is better to start early in childhood. Early exposure to a second language can have a positive impact on a child’s life. One of them is acquiring the language like a native speaker, which has its advantages in this era of globalization. Dr. Ben Kim stated that learning two languages over the course of one’s life will help reduce the risk of dementia by four years, according to Canadian researchers.
In general, individuals who can communicate in more than one language can communicate with a broader range of people, read more literature, and profit more from international travel. Knowing a second language also gives children a head start on the competition in school and the workplace in the future. In other words, it helps to train children to be an educated young generation.
Contrary to the benefits stated above, there are still debates circling around whether bilingualism in children is beneficial or not. One misconception about bilingualism in children is that it will cause them to struggle in both languages. This condition is believed to cause language delay and disorder, which will lower children’s cognitive capacities. However, this is not scientifically proven. Researchers found that any delay in acquiring language tends to happen since children have more vocabulary to learn. Once children build a long list of vocabulary, the problem will disappear; they just need time.
Another misbelief in raising children as bilinguals is that it will hinder their cognitive skills. Debunking this myth, researchers carried out several experiments, including mental flexibility, non-verbal problem-solving tasks, and language comprehension. The result showed that bilingual children scored higher than those who are monolinguals.
All things considered, raising bilingual children hold more advantage than disadvantage. The misconception and fact often collide, but the myths going around the society remain unproven. Thus, parents should provide a bilingual environment in raising their children.
Sources:
Children and Bilingualism; benefits of raising Bilingual Children (univ-tridinanti.ac.id)
Being Bilingual Can Delay Dementia (drbenkim.com)
