Bilingualism is good for my brain because...Listen to what the students have to say about how they feel being bilingual
Children 7-9 years old
Children 10-14 old
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The advantages It is important for parents to understand that, in our School, all languages and cultures are valued and respected and as such children feel free and encouraged to express themselves in the language they feel most comfortable in.
There are no rules about “obliging” the child to communicate in one language rather than the other, but children are encouraged and motivated to use the two languages in the appropriate contexts. Research findings on the effects of Bilingual Education, have shown that children who have gone through a bilingual program, will, in both linguistic and academic performance, outperform their monolingual counterparts provided they have had uninterrupted attendance in the program, of a minimum of four to a maximum of seven years. More than 150 studies conducted during the past 50 years consistently confirm the following advantages of Bilingual Education; (J. Cummins 1997, 2000, C. Baker 1996, 1998, F. Genesee 1997, 2000) • More creative and flexible thinking • Greater problem-solving and analytical skills • Increased academic achievement • Superior academic and linguistic performance when compared to monolingual counterparts • Ease in learning a third or fourth language • Twice the enjoyment of reading and writing • Advanced interpreting and translation skills • Access to two or more cultures and worlds of experience • Increased intercultural understanding, appreciation and respect for differences • Raised self-esteem and confidence in social interactions • Greater interpersonal skills • Increased flexibility and adaptability to new situations and contexts • Enhanced economic and employment benefits • Easier population mobility from one country to another |