Studies have shown that multilingual children out perform their monolingual peers in many aspects
LEARN ITALIAN, SPANISH, FRENCH, OR PORTUGUESE IN PERSON OR ONLINE!
Multilingual children have been shown to be better communicators, have heightened cognitive ability, and be better problem solvers. They are more spatially aware, more empathetic, and more flexible in their thinking, and their working memories can sustain greater demands than the memories of children who only speak one language. In addition, they show higher levels of control and can better adapt to both logical problems and complex social situations.
IT IS CRUCIAL FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE WHEN THEY ARE STILL YOUNG.
Studies have shown that between the ages of 8 and 12 children lose the ability to learn and produce new sounds: any language learned after this age will be accompanied by a permanent accent. Children’s brains are wired to easily learn new languages, allowing them to develop fluency in any language they are exposed to. Some parents worry that their children might become confused when exposed to multiple languages, and believe that this delays the speech of a child. However, a study done by the University of Washington revealed that babies are able to differentiate between two languages even before they can speak.
THE LEARNING OF ANOTHER LANGUAGE IS GREATLY BENEFICIAL BOTH IN CHILDHOOD AND LATER IN LIFE.
Those who are multilingual have better memories and maintain their mental capacity longer than adults who only speak one language. Multilingual children have been found to have higher intelligence, score higher on the SATs, and have better multitasking skills. Being fluent in multiple languages ensures diverse cultural knowledge, and thus multilingual people are able to view issues from different perspectives; this ability is critical when facing issues in our international society. It is crucial to expose our children to other languages during their prime learning stage, because being multilingual provides an edge unattainable to those who only speak one language.
Still not convinced? Check out these great articles on the benefits of learning a second language:
The New York Times: Why Bilinguals are Smarter