The Importance Of Bilingual Education In Schools

Children are being raised in a society which is continually becoming more bilingual. Now we debate the question of whether or not schools should make dual-language programs required. There is a constant demand for bilingual people in the workforce. There are over 50.5 million Hispanic people living in America (Lynch, “Should Bilingual” 1). When we hear the phrase “bilingual education” we think of Spanish over every other language. With roughly 6,909 languages in the world, limiting our students to one language is disgraceful (Anderson 3). The long term benefits children will gain by applying bilingual learning will assist them academically and in life. Should bilingual education be included in every U.S. classroom?

Starting children off at

a young age is clearly the correct path a parent must take. While adults possess prior knowledge of a language, children are still learning. Exposing a child to multiple languages allows them to learn as easily as their first language. Young children are proven to learn language better than adults. The reasoning behind this is because their brains are in their most flexible stage. Although adults may already understand the mechanics of a language, it takes longer for them to learn languages other than their first (Merritt 2). Since it takes adults longer to achieve success at mastering a language, they often get tired and do not stick with it. Learning multiple languages in a school setting gives children an advantage because they are given a more organized setting (Merritt 3). Introducing a second language early on enables children to exhibit more native-like pronunciation (Naserdeem 22).
If learning another language is as simple as learning to walk for young children, why not take advantage of it (“Benefits of Learning” 1)? Children who are exposed to multiple languages may be subject to a substantial academic advantage. Bilingual children are given the ability to focus more clearly on their academics (Lynch, “Why Bilingual” 1). Some parents worry that learning two languages would be confusing for their child and it may interfere with their English development. Not only is that statement false, but learning two languages actually helps with a child’s verbal development. Children can distinguish between languages during their first weeks of life. The cognitive performance bilingual children exhibit is much higher in basic elementary education, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Flexible thinking, increased multitasking skills, and better memory are exhibited by bilingual students. It has been shown that bilingual children even go on to score higher on their SATs (“Benefits of Learning” 1-2). In 1992, it was reported students who studied a foreign language for four or more years scored higher on the verbal and math sections of the SAT (Naserdeem 21).
Some critics of bilingual education argue learning a second language takes up a child’s time from learning other skills. One author writes, “Specializing in a particular area can stunt his overall development and can actually lead to a lack of well-rounded learning” (“Prominent Pros and Cons” 3). Young children are able to learn multiple languages naturally, unlike adults. Learning several languages helps shape the child’s brain while at its most flexible stage. It is just as easy for children to learn a second language as it is to learn the first. It has been proven that children who have received bilingual education have more academic successes than those who have not (“Benefits of Learning” 1). The author also argues children with bilingual education will become burnt out on learning altogether because of the great deal of time spent learning the second language. Since children learn languages naturally, an extensive amount of time is not required. They become naturally immersed in the language, so there is no fear of being burnt out.
A doubt some have about bilingual education is becoming unattached to our dominant language’s culture.

There is a fear that bringing bilingual learning into classrooms will widen the cultural gap (“Prominent Pros and Cons” 3). However, evidence shows those who become involved in a second language become more earthly and learn to better appreciate different cultures of the world. An understanding of different cultures helps the learner to value different ethnic backgrounds. Bilingual learners often have different perceptions of events. While researching subjects who spoke German or English, we are able to unveil evidence of how different languages affect people’s perceptions. The subjects watched videos of people walking, biking, running, or driving. The research found English speakers tend to situate actions in time, while German speakers tend to specify beginnings, middles, and ends of events. Bilingual speakers are able to switch between the two different perspectives (Huerta

4).
It is worrisome to critics that bilingual programs may cost too much money. They argue that paying money for these programs is a waste because students do not understand nor appreciate the language they are being taught (“Prominent Pros and Cons” 4). Although schools may be struggling to keep these programs funded, they do possess importance. If children began learning alternative languages at a young age, it would allow them to occupy more academic advantages and a better sense of different cultures. The money would be going towards children’s academic futures, so therefore, would not be a waste of money (“Benefits of Learning” 1).
Cognitive development is an aspect bilingual children are able to thrive in. Being able to focus on a second language allows a child to drastically increase his cognitive development. A main area children are able to develop skills in is known as “object performance”. This is a process in which a child is able to recognize and understand different meanings for the same object, but the object remains the same despite the differences between nationalities (Huerta 5). Cognitive based problem solving is also a key area in which bilingual children are able to thrive in. This success in problem solving allows students to score higher on tests in verbal and math sections (Huerta 6).
If we were to implement bilingual education into all classrooms, the future would be considerably brighter for these students. An increasing demand is present in the workforce for bilingual employees. Research shows thirty-one percent of executives are bilingual. Employers are constantly attempting to find workers who are fluent in multiple languages (Morsch 1). According to a study in 1998, forty percent of international sales were lost due to an inability to relate to foreign countries (Naserdeem 21). Those employees who are able to speak both English and Spanish are exceedingly in demand. Since the need for bilingual workers is increasing, employers are willing to pay more money. Pay for bilingual employees ranges between five and twenty percent more per hour than the company’s original base pay. Not only does bilingual education help academically, it also helps ensure a bright future as the children enter the workforce (Morsch 2).
Many benefits may result after learning a second language.

Studies have shown learning multiple languages has a significant effect on the brain. Brain related diseases, such as alzheimer's disease and dementia, are delayed after learning a second language. Learning commonly spoken languages gives people substantial benefits when visiting other countries. Simple communication can allow a vacation to be considerably more enjoyable. Other benefits include improvement of the dominant language and having a better understanding of cultures. While learning a second language, it allows the brain to give thought to the first learned language. After learning new grammatical rules and comparing them to the dominant language, people are able to better understand the rules they had first become accustomed to (Smith

2).
The list of benefits for learning a new language could go on indefinitely. Academic, cultural, and cognitive benefits are some of the most effective benefits one may exhibit. Why should we not take action to implement these programs into our schools? If these programs were required, students would reveal some of the best academic results and would go on to better our future. The next step to a great future is enacting dual language programs into every classroom in the United States. The sterling outcomes these programs will unveil are the reason putting them to action is the correct decision.