There are myriad benefits to your child in learning a new language! We’ve broken them down into a few key areas:
Improved Cognitive Skills
Countless studies have shown that multilingual children outpace their peers in:
- memory and listening skills
- divergent thinking: problem solving, critical thinking
- metalinguistic awareness: understanding the connection between content and structure; deciphering how to manipulate language
- developing a broader perspective: for example, when children learn there is more than one way to say apple, they quickly grasp that a variety of different points of view can coexist
Social Benefits
Multicultural awareness will allow your child to thrive in school and to become a “global citizen” who appreciates, understands and embraces the cultural differences that underlie interactions in our neighborhoods, cities and beyond.
Practical Job and Life Skills
Research has shown that multilinguals have a distinct edge in lifetime earnings. Entering the job market with multilingual skills is a key way for your child to distinguish him/herself from the competition. Another obvious practical benefit of a second language is that it make family travel more fun and easy.
Creating an Emotional Connection
Children whose family members speak a language other than English connect to their heritage by interacting with family through the intimacy of shared language.