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Benefits of Bilingualism in Young Children
An article (http://www.class.uh.edu/psyc/cogdev/__docs/Zero_Yoshida.pdf) in a recent issue of the journal from Zero To Three reviews the evidence that fostering bilingualism in young children yields important cognitive benefits. Children who grow up exposed to multiple languages learn multiple ways of expressing ideas and concepts. They also have to learn when to shift from using one language to another. Because of these experiences, some research shows that bilingual children are better than their monolingual peers at regulating their thoughts and behaviors and at learning words that have overlapping meanings. The impact on self-regulation not only improves behavior in the classroom; it is also helpful when children have to adjust their thinking to solve novel problems. Finally, the article discusses evidence that the knowledge gained from learning in one's native language can be transferred to another language. This suggests that teaching skills and concepts in English language learners' first language – assuming they are fluent in that language – may actually benefit their understanding of those skills and concepts in English.
The preceding was originally published by Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Pew Center on the States. It is used here by permission.
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