Being
Bilingual Rocks
Growing up in a home where two languages were freely spoken was kind of a novelty in my neighborhood. We were the only Spanish speaking family in the area, but my parents were committed to us maintaining our native tongue and also learning the popular and school language. As a child, my friends thought it was cool when they came over to play, and my parents were rattling off to each other in our mother language. They would always ask me to translate and even began to pick up on Spanish quickly. My parents loved it when they would greet them in Spanish or even ask a question in Spanish. It was kind of like a game. I was fortunate in that I received not only grammar in English but also grammar in Spanish so that I could read, write and speak both languages with ease and in a grammatically correct fashion. Being bilingual was fun when I was a kid and now that I am an adult, I am so grateful to my parents for encouraging bilingualism from such an early age.
Do You Speak More Than One Language
Yes
No
Benefits of Bilingualism
A study done in York University, in Ontario has seen good evidence that being bilingual may keep degenerative mental diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay. Researchers state that people who speak more than one language have greater cognitive reserves, which allow the mind to run for a longer period, than their unilingual peers. For me, being bilingual opened up a host of career possibilities and gave me an advantage in the job market that many others do not have. It has also been proven that bilinguals have a keen ability to process a great deal of information rapidly and switch their attention between two or tasks effort. In addition, being bilingual opens up a whole new world when it comes to exploring and enjoying different cultures.
Learning Early
It is definitely easier to learn a second language when you are young, and your brain is still forming then when you are older. Many upper elementary, middle and high schools offer foreign language classes to students, however; there has been an argument made that second language instruction should begin in early elementary grades and continue through high school. Currently foreign language studies can be found in 25 to 30 percent of American elementary schools.
Can I Become Bilingual Later in Life? Many people have become bilingual once they found that they had a need for a second language. Take for instance, if you move to another country where the main language spoken is not your first language. For instance, if you want to learn French fast, visit France or Quebec where the language is freely used. You will find that in order to get by you had better start learning the new language. If you are around the language, and have the opportunity to interact with others who speak it, learning comes naturally. Of course, formal instruction is also useful, as it helps with grammar, reading and writing.
Growing up in a home where two languages were freely spoken was kind of a novelty in my neighborhood. We were the only Spanish speaking family in the area, but my parents were committed to us maintaining our native tongue and also learning the popular and school language. As a child, my friends thought it was cool when they came over to play, and my parents were rattling off to each other in our mother language. They would always ask me to translate and even began to pick up on Spanish quickly. My parents loved it when they would greet them in Spanish or even ask a question in Spanish. It was kind of like a game. I was fortunate in that I received not only grammar in English but also grammar in Spanish so that I could read, write and speak both languages with ease and in a grammatically correct fashion. Being bilingual was fun when I was a kid and now that I am an adult, I am so grateful to my parents for encouraging bilingualism from such an early age.
Do You Speak More Than One Language
Yes
No
Benefits of Bilingualism
A study done in York University, in Ontario has seen good evidence that being bilingual may keep degenerative mental diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay. Researchers state that people who speak more than one language have greater cognitive reserves, which allow the mind to run for a longer period, than their unilingual peers. For me, being bilingual opened up a host of career possibilities and gave me an advantage in the job market that many others do not have. It has also been proven that bilinguals have a keen ability to process a great deal of information rapidly and switch their attention between two or tasks effort. In addition, being bilingual opens up a whole new world when it comes to exploring and enjoying different cultures.
Learning Early
It is definitely easier to learn a second language when you are young, and your brain is still forming then when you are older. Many upper elementary, middle and high schools offer foreign language classes to students, however; there has been an argument made that second language instruction should begin in early elementary grades and continue through high school. Currently foreign language studies can be found in 25 to 30 percent of American elementary schools.
Can I Become Bilingual Later in Life? Many people have become bilingual once they found that they had a need for a second language. Take for instance, if you move to another country where the main language spoken is not your first language. For instance, if you want to learn French fast, visit France or Quebec where the language is freely used. You will find that in order to get by you had better start learning the new language. If you are around the language, and have the opportunity to interact with others who speak it, learning comes naturally. Of course, formal instruction is also useful, as it helps with grammar, reading and writing.
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