Learning a new language is not only fun, but it also helps open new doors for you thanks to being able to express yourself in new ways. Like with some other skills, it’s best to start learning a new language at a young age as the brain is still developing. Outlined below are some benefits of learning a language at an early age.
It Boosts Academic Achievement
Learning a second language has been shown to have many cognitive benefits which directly impact academic achievement. Bilingual children, when compared with those who don’t speak an additional language, show improved skills in reading, writing, and maths. They also score higher results on standardized tests whether in a local or international school.
Nurtures Positive Attitudes
Children fluent in more than one language have more curiosity and show a better cultural awareness of the cultures associated with all the extra languages they speak. They experience the world in new ways which they may have missed out on had they not been exposed to more languages.
Makes it Easier to Learn More Languages
The earlier a child is exposed to a new language, the easier it will be for them to learn more languages in the future. This is because grasping the extra language early on prepares the brain to learn more languages in the future, and sets the children up for success should they ever join an international school.
Gives Greater Confidence and More Opportunities
Children who grow up with the ability to fluently speak a second or even third language are often confident in their abilities. This is more so when they are in a setting where the other language is spoken. As they grow, their bilingual abilities open a lot of opportunities for them, giving them a distinct advantage.
Up to 71% of people in a study held private schools in high regard, saying that they were either good or excellent. In the same study, 63% gave an equal rating to church-related or parochial schools, and 55% gave the same rating to charter schools. Home schools were rated the same by 46%, and public schools were rated similarly by 44%. This study shows how people perceive different school settings. Teaching your child multiple languages can arguably give them the same advantages as attending an international school.
The journey of learning a new language from a young age promises many opportunities for children. This is why advocating for multilingual education at an early age is not merely an investment in linguistic skills but a gateway to a brighter future enriched with diverse perspectives and boundless opportunities.
