20.1.8.4 Benefits of Multilingualism
What are the Benefits of Multilingualism?
According to the U.S. Department of Education, multilingualism provides educational, cognitive, sociocultural, and economic benefits for those students who attain fluency in more than one language.
| Cognitive Benefits | Educational Benefits | Sociocultural Benefits | Economic Benefits |
|---|
- Increased executive function:
- Attentional Control
- Task switching (mental flexibility)
- May delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline and the onset of illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease
- Increased intellectual flexibility
| - Comparable or higher achievement of students in dual language programs as compared to students in English-only programs
- Improved learning outcomes in various subjects
- Associated with increased high school graduation rates among children of immigrants
- Leads to increased levels of creativity
- Promotes higher levels of abstract thought and reasoning
- Engenders enhanced metalinguistic awareness to support the learning of languages in the future
| - Greater understanding of other world cultures
- Increased empathy development
- Enhanced connection to heritage cultures
- Promotes global awareness, reduced discrimination, improved self-esteem, and stronger cross-group relationships
| - Greater job opportunities in multiple public and private sectors
- Greater business opportunities
- Raises occupational status and earning potential
- Language skills are in high demand for employment with the Federal Government
|
A Parent's Guide to Multilingual Education (CDE) - English version
A Parent's Guide to Multilingual Education (CDE) - Spanish version
Pacific Coast Academy