Why Learn a Foreign Language
Even though we are in the middle of summer, it won’t be long before many parents are planning their children’s upcoming activities for the new school year. Among the typical extracurricular programs, such as math, sports, or music lessons, it is important to also consider enrolling your child in a foreign language program. Apart from learning a new skill, exposure to learning a foreign language has far-reaching benefits, including enhanced cognitive flexibility, improved listening skills, curiosity and awareness of the wider world, and improved ability to learn more languages in the future.
Enhanced cognitive flexibility
The process of learning a new language requires frequent switching between languages as a child is acquiring new vocabulary. This forming of new neuron connections is also an exercise for the brain and like any other exercise it has proven benefits for the developing mind. As scientists point out, the switch is assumed to be sustained by functional and anatomical changes in the brain, suggesting that there are structural and functional differences in bilingual individuals.
Moreover, learning in an environment that isn’t strictly from a textbook, but rather in a more interactive, vocal, and hands-on setting, makes the learning process fun and enjoyable. Kids remember better while their whole body is involved in the learning process via games, songs, and crafts. As with participation in other scholastic activities, such as joining the math team or playing an instrument in the school band, exposure to learning a new language increases brain flexibility. The effort of switching between languages and realizing new grammatical structures involves a level of mental discipline, which will serve them well with challenging pursuits throughout their academic career.
Acquiring a Broadened World-View
When learning to speak, read, write, and think in a foreign language in a fun and animated setting, our students become familiar with the culture of the language’s host country, such as customs, holidays, and the history that has shaped its citizens. Kids have a natural curiosity and our instructors – who are native speakers -- are eager to share their knowledge of a culture they come from. This exposure to another culture via language instruction fosters open-mindedness and stimulates adaptability. Awareness, appreciation, and respect for other people and their traditions, beliefs, and behaviors are important and fun side effects to learning a new language.
Improved ability to learn more languages in the future
Studies suggest that by acquiring a second language at a young age, more parts of the brain are utilized than in a monolingual brain. As a result, even if a child doesn’t become fluent or doesn’t use their second language after a while, they still have the benefit of developing the language learning area of their brain. In addition, this will make the process of learning new languages easier for them in the future. It is worth noting that learning a second language also naturally focuses the attention on the structure of any language. This has the effect of making students be more attentive to the structure and usage of both their native and their new languages.
With the enhanced skills of learning – and mastering – a new language, students translate these aptitudes into strong suits, such as managing priorities and attention to detail. Multi-tasking becomes second nature as does the ability to exercise patience and tolerate ambiguity.
In addition to sharpened mental development, a broadened view of the world, and the potential for better performance in language classes in school , the long-term bonuses of mastering a foreign language also include enriched travel experiences and a heightened self-confidence.
The goal of our teachers at the Fun World Language Academy is to bring to your child all that is fun and interesting about learning a foreign language, with the added premium of the skills described above.
Additional reading
Articles
The 5 cognitive benefits, by Bilingual Kidspot
Influence of Bilingualism on Cognitive Ageing:
US Employers bilingualism expectations are getting higher: US Employers bilingualism expectations are getting higher:
Books
Raising a Bilingual Child, by Barbara Zurer Pearson
Short Video:
Edutopia, 2 min, Why students should learn a second language: