Info-graphic retrieved from http://apecsec.org/bilingual-education-pros-and-cons
Cognitive Benefits of Bilingualism:
The cognitive challenges that accompany the acquisition of a second language bring about significant improvement in executive function, metalinguistic awareness and critical thought. Just as skeletal muscles respond to exercise by becoming stronger the brain responds to cognitive challenges by creating and strengthening neural networks. It has been shown that, "during development there is a significant change in the physical connections between brain areas" and that "these changes result in more efficient connections between brain areas" (Rothbart & Posner, 2014, p.15). The act of de-cyphering two languages leads to a significant level of cognitive response conflict (2014). This cognitive conflict promotes the growth of neural pathways in the brain and their use causes them wire and fire together (Hebb, 1949). The development of new neural pathways leads to a "bilingual executive processing advantage" (Klein, 2015, p.30). The increased cognitive ability that accompany's bilingualism tends to include "increased linguistic awareness, greater flexibility in thought, and more internal examination of language" (Lazaruk, 2008, p.614). When compared to their monolingual peers, bilingual children and adults have been shown to have an enhanced ability to focus their attention on relevant information and ignore irrelevant distractions (Council on Canadian Learning, 2008). Additionally, it has been shown in the work of Bialystok, Craik and Luo, that the effects of ageing on the brain are diminished among bilingual adults (2012). Indeed, older bilingual adults show higher levels of executive function as well as greater ability to complete complex non-verbal tasks when compared to monolingual adults (Bialystok, Poarch, Luo, & Crick, 2014). Source: Mary Allen, 2004. "Reading achievement of students in French immersion programs". Educational Quarterly Review, Volume 9, number 4, pages 25-30.
Economic Benefits of Bilingualism:
To accompany the cognitive and academic benefits of bilingualism there are also economic benefits for the bilingual individual. In today's job market having the skills to gain initial interest from perspective employers is an enormous boon. The ability to speak more then one language is one of the skills that employers will look for. Job candidates that happen to be bilingual acts as a "means of adding value to existing human capital" (Ruiz de Zarobe, Sierra, Gallardo del Puerto, 2011, p.22) which more and more often open job opportunities to candidates who speak several languages (Gabszewicz, Ginsburgh, & Weber, 2011, p.271). In fact, the same study Gabszewicz, Ginsburgh and Weber found that "a second language... raises wages in the range from five to fifteen percent" (2011, p.271). Both, the increase in the number of job opportunities a bilingual person is a contender for and the potential for increased earnings up to fifteen percent are significant economic benefits associated with bilingualism. |
Introduction: On this page the benefits of bilingual education will be discussed. The page will focus on three main categories: the cognitive, academic and economical benefits linked to bilingual education and bilingualism itself. Cognitively, bilingualism has been shown to improve executive function, metalinguistic awareness and the ability to think critically. Perhaps as a result of these cognitive benefits, bilingual students have been shown to routinely out perform their monolingual peers in academic ability. Finally, this page will examine the socio-economic benefits that accompany functional bilingual ability.
Info-graphic retrieved from http://apecsec.org/bilingual-education-pros-and-cons
Academic Benefits of Bilingualism:
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References:
Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I., & Luk, G. (2012). Bilingualism: consequences for mind and brain. Trends in cognitive sciences, 16(4), 240-250.
Bialystok, E., Poarch, G., Luo, L., Craik, F. I. (2015). Effects of bilingualism and aging on executive function and working memory. Psychology and Aging. 29(3), 696-705.
Canadian Council on Learning. (2008). Parlez-vous francais?: The advantages of bilingualism in canada. Lessons in Learning. Retrieved from
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Oct-16-08-The-advantages-of-bilingualism.pdf.
Gabszewicz,J., Ginsburgh, V., & Weber, S. (2011). Bilingualism and communicative benefits. Annals of Economics and Statistics. 101-102, 271-286.
Hebb, D. O. (1949). The Organization of Behavior. New York: Wiley & Sons.
Lazaruk, W. A. (2008). Linguistic, academic and cognitive benefits of french immersion. The Canadian Modern Language Review. 63(5), 605-627.
Raymond, K. M. (2015). Is there a benet of bilingualism for executive functioning?. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18, 29-31.
Rothbart, M. K. (2014). The developing brain in a multitasking world. Developmental Review. p.1-22.
Ruiz de Zarobe, Y., Sierra, J., & Gallardo del Puerto, F. (eds). (2011). Content and Foreign Language Integrated Learning: Contribution to Multilingualism in European Contexts. Switzerland: Peter Lang AG.
Verhoeven, L. (2007). Early bilingualism, language transfer, and phonological awareness. Applied psycholinguistics. 28, 425-439.
Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I., & Luk, G. (2012). Bilingualism: consequences for mind and brain. Trends in cognitive sciences, 16(4), 240-250.
Bialystok, E., Poarch, G., Luo, L., Craik, F. I. (2015). Effects of bilingualism and aging on executive function and working memory. Psychology and Aging. 29(3), 696-705.
Canadian Council on Learning. (2008). Parlez-vous francais?: The advantages of bilingualism in canada. Lessons in Learning. Retrieved from
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Oct-16-08-The-advantages-of-bilingualism.pdf.
Gabszewicz,J., Ginsburgh, V., & Weber, S. (2011). Bilingualism and communicative benefits. Annals of Economics and Statistics. 101-102, 271-286.
Hebb, D. O. (1949). The Organization of Behavior. New York: Wiley & Sons.
Lazaruk, W. A. (2008). Linguistic, academic and cognitive benefits of french immersion. The Canadian Modern Language Review. 63(5), 605-627.
Raymond, K. M. (2015). Is there a benet of bilingualism for executive functioning?. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18, 29-31.
Rothbart, M. K. (2014). The developing brain in a multitasking world. Developmental Review. p.1-22.
Ruiz de Zarobe, Y., Sierra, J., & Gallardo del Puerto, F. (eds). (2011). Content and Foreign Language Integrated Learning: Contribution to Multilingualism in European Contexts. Switzerland: Peter Lang AG.
Verhoeven, L. (2007). Early bilingualism, language transfer, and phonological awareness. Applied psycholinguistics. 28, 425-439.