Did you grow up bilingual? Are you curious about the importance of learning a second language while you’re young? Let’s take a closer look at what it really means to be bilingual in today’s world.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being bilingual?
Researchers do not yet understand the full impact of bilingualism on the lives of those who grow up speaking two languages. However, what we know so far seems to suggest that the positive effects of bilingualism far outweigh the negative.
Advantages
For starters, fluency in two languages has been shown to improve a person’s ability to multitask, pay attention, solve problems and think creatively. Bilingualism also has been linked to boosting working memory performance.
Outside of cognitive development, bilingual people also have personal benefits. If you learned two languages as a child, you have access to two cultures. Travel can be approached with more confidence and you may find yourself with more professional and academic opportunities.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of bilingualism are few, but it is worth noting that speaking two languages can bring its own unique challenges.
Bilingual people can experience language fluency delay, accidentally mix the two languages, and sometimes find that one language dominates the other, especially if you live in a country where one language is dominant.
Lexical retrieval (the ability to think of words) can also occasionally lapse, leading to the “tip of the tongue” (TOT) effect when someone can’t quite recall a familiar word from their learned vocabulary.
At what age can you be bilingual?
Technically, a person can be bilingual as soon as they start speaking. As a child’s vocabulary expands, so does their bilingual capacity. This can pose a challenge, though, as the more words you learn in one language, the more you need to learn in the other to maintain your bilingual ability.
If you have parents who are fluent in two languages, each may communicate with you in “their” language. (For example, your dad may speak to you in Spanish while your mom speaks to you in English.) If your parents are not bilingual, it’s possible you had a nanny or babysitter who spoke another language so you could gain exposure.
According to a study by Cognition, an international journal that publishes theoretical and experimental papers on the study of the mind, there is a “critical cut-off age” for learning a language fluently. Their research shows that if you want to have native-like knowledge of a language, you should ideally start learning before age 10. But you’re not doomed if you start your language learning journey after that!
At a young age, bilingual acquisition is as natural as learning how to walk or crawl. Kids who learn decoding skills in one language will easily transfer these skills to any other language. Multicultural parenting may not be the easiest, but it comes with many advantages for the children.
Benefits of being bilingual from a young age
#1 Better concentration:
Bilingual children can switch between languages quickly, improving their ability to focus in noisy environments.
#2 Arithmetic and problem-solving:
Bilingual kids show better mental alertness and excel in problem-solving tasks.
#3 Creativity and ability to hypothesize:
Decoding multiple languages enhances the capacity to generate and explain scientific ideas.
#4 Better language and vocabulary:
Understanding sounds and tenses gives bilingual children an advantage in reading and spelling.
#5 Brain exercise:
Bilingual brains are more active and alert, leading to enhanced cognitive abilities.
#6 Better communication:
Multilingual kids excel in interpersonal understanding, making them effective communicators.
#7 Improved memory:
Learning multiple languages requires memory retention, benefiting academic performance and everyday tasks.
#8 Faster response:
Bilingualism trains the brain to switch between languages quickly, leading to shorter reaction times.
#9 Improved social life and better family connections:
Speaking multiple languages opens up new social opportunities and strengthens family bonds.
#10 Open-mindedness:
Multilingual kids tend to be more open-minded, tolerant, and empathetic towards others.
How does being bilingual affect you throughout life?
Everyone is different, and there are no blanket rules when it comes to speaking more than one language.
Some bilingual children can struggle to develop reading and writing skills to the same level of proficiency in both languages simultaneously – racing ahead in one while the other lags behind.
Additionally, if you speak two languages from childhood, you may also confuse the grammatical structure of the two languages, leading to mistakes in both languages in the early stages of language development.
However, you likely overcame these potential struggles as you grew up and your language skills improved. The pros of being bilingual definitely outweigh the cons. Here are our top six benefits of bilingualism:
#1 Academic advantage
Studies on executive function have shown that bilingual students can outperform monolingual students in a number of subject areas. If you’re bilingual, you have strong mental skills, including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control – all of which can help with overall academic development.
#2 Easy travel and social success
Being able to speak a second language can make travel more accessible and enjoyable. The ability to easily converse with people around the world can lead to a greater sense of global citizenship and enhanced social skills—a win/win!
#3 A greater sense of personal identity
If you grew up in a bilingual household, speaking both languages likely helped you to feel more connected to your ancestry. Acknowledging the importance of family culture and heritage is an important part of developing a strong sense of personal identity.
#4 Increased appreciation of different cultures
You don’t have to speak a culture’s language to learn about and respect it, but being bilingual can allow for a more immersive and direct experience with different communities.
#5 Access a more exciting job market
The global job market is increasingly international with many companies operating in locations across continents. Being able to speak more than one language will make you a more competitve and desirable candidate when it comes to applying for jobs and opportunities.
#6 Becoming multilingual is easier
Bilingual people have a better grasp of the ability to analyze different aspects of a language including sounds, syntax and words. This enhanced aptitude for languages, in general, makes it easier to learn a third or fourth language too!
Overall, the relatively manageable challenges that might crop up in the short term are well worth it when you consider the multitude of benefits in the long term. Being bilingual is a gift that keeps on giving.
If you haven’t spoken a second language from a young age, you may believe that you won’t be able to learn one now. However, you absolutely can! If you’re interested in learning a second language, why not join one of our inlingua International Language Centers – inlingua?
Sources:
https://insights.gostudent.org/en/top-6-benefits-of-bilingualism
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43947365
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/growing-up-bilingual-can-improve-attentiveness-efficiency-study.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81545-5