You've heard this before -- "learning another language can give your child an edge". But what you might not know is the full scope of "why". This is a hot topic in the linguistic community today.
In our global world, where we are more connected to other languages and cultures through the internet and other technology, it's not only seen as an edge to know another language, it's becoming more like the survival of the fittest to be bilingual, (or even better yet--multilingual!)
New studies on multilingualism are showing that young children who learn a second and third language at a very young age actually learn English better. They can actually increase their cognitive function and efficiency. Therefore, bilinguals are better at multitasking -- which could mean your kid could clean his room while practicing for his oral presentation! Further, multilingualism can increase their attention span. (But then, there is always selective hearing, which I'm afraid there is no cure for.)
Not to mention, people who are multilingual and exposed to new languages can have the added benefit of being able to tell other languages that they haven't even studied apart. Which would be great for not mistaking every Asian language you hear as "Chinese". Come on, we've all done that.
Side note: Take me for example--I have studied Chinese for many years, and I can tell when people are speaking Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, or Thai -- no problem!
Another beautiful part of being multilingual is that you really can experience the world from new perspectives. Every language has a culture and a way of viewing descriptions, which can really be quite fascinating. And not to be too cheesy, but this can really help us see the beauty of the world through a totally different lens.
There are many reasons to study a new language, and very few not to. This is your opportunity to expose your children to a new language and culture, and ultimately spark a passion for multilingualism. Who knows what that could turn into-- a diplomat? Global Entrepreneur? The possibilities are grander on a global scale.
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