Bilingual education is about teaching academic subjects in two languages.
There is so much research that proves bilingualism speeds up mental processing. This benefit has been measured in both kids as well adults—with no signs showing it hinders cognitive development due to “confusion.”
Ideal School is a dual language immersion school (grades K-8). Each grade has a combination of students who speak English natively & students who speak Spanish natively.
The Benefits of Bilingual Education
In recent years, there has been a growing push for bilingual education in schools. And for good reason—bilingualism has been shown to have a number of cognitive, social, and cultural benefits. Here are five of the top benefits of bilingual education that every parent should know about.
1. Improved Cognitive Skills
Bilingualism has been shown to improve a person’s cognitive skills, including memory, abstract thinking, and executive function (the ability to plan, organize, and multitask). A 2015 study even found that being bilingual may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
2. Enhanced Multi-tasking Abilities
Because they are constantly switching between two languages, bilinguals develop strong multitasking skills. A 2012 study found that bilinguals are better at switching between tasks and don’t suffer from the “interference” that monolinguals do when trying to multitask.
3. Greater Cultural Understanding
In today’s increasingly globalized world, it’s more important than ever for children to have an understanding of different cultures. Bilingual education can help foster this understanding by teaching children about other cultures and customs from an early age.
4. Improved Social Skills
Bilingualism has been shown to improve a person’s social skills, including communication and empathy. A 2014 study found that bilingual children are better at “theory of mind” tasks (i.e., understanding another person’s perspective) than monolingual children.
5. Higher Earning Potential
Bilingualism also has financial benefits—studies have shown that bilingual employees earn up to 5% more than their monolingual counterparts. In fact, most employers now consider bilingualism to be an important skill when hiring new employees.
Why Choose A Bilingual School For Your Child?
Having a bilingual education, especially at a young age, not only benefits your child’s cognitive development but their social and psychological growth as well. Exhibiting proficiency in two languages expands the mind.
At Ideal School, we ensure every child feels comfortable and confident to the challenges of learning bilingually. With our guided teaching methods includes a thorough approach to help assess each child individually whilst providing on-going support.
Here are some benefits to a bilingual education:
- Experience a multicultural education.
- Long-term social benefits beyond school.
- Improved cognitive skills.
- Promotes diversity in the classroom.
If you are interested in learning more about Ideal School, book a free online consultation with us!