When a child speaks, reads, or writes in two or more languages, his brain constantly moves from one mental structure to another. In ancient times, the simultaneous learning of several languages was thought to hinder the brain and make it more difficult. Bilingual education allows the acquisition and development of many skills that involve memorization, reasoning, and problem-solving. In turn, the realms of perception and attention are extensive.
The bilingual/multilingual child is a better student, performs better than other children, and acquires intellectual qualities that are highly valued by important educational institutions and, at some point, by some of the most reputable companies. Here are just a few strong reasons why the decision to enroll your child in a multilingual Preschool in Kolkata is a wise one.
The short-term and long-term benefits of bilingual education
Speaking, writing, and reading two or more languages facilitates communication and allows the child to appreciate other people and cultures without fear and discomfort with other ways of thinking and living. This unique and enriched experience at the best primary school near Bansdroni promotes open-mindedness, greater tolerance, and increased adaptability. As you can judge well, these values and attitudes are indispensable in our ever-changing world.
Then, studying two or more foreign languages involves a different learning process, which will benefit the child throughout his life. Over the years, starting with preschool learning, the young student assimilates linguistic structures that are often complex, and sometimes contradictory. These structures are built progressively and facilitate a deeper and more refined understanding of oral and written language. In most cases, two or three languages feed on each other. This sophisticated capability will be used in many areas over the years.
The right age for a child to learn a foreign language
Speaking, reading, and writing in two or more languages is a long process. It takes a few years to master a foreign language perfectly.
Choosing a bilingual education for your child in the best Preschool in Kolkata is a unique and challenging journey that requires continuity, equal recognition of languages spoken at home and school, and a special connection with adults who speak and learn these languages.
Finally, the family, even if the language is not spoken at home, should provide the necessary support, as we do with other aspects of daily life. Nothing good is built without affection and encouragement.
Choosing a bilingual education for your child from preschool learning is perhaps the best thing you can do for him. Preschool children have the opportunity to learn English by the time they reach the age of 6-7 and to acquire a pronunciation identical to that of a native speaker.
Children who learn two or more languages from childhood, bilingual or multilingual children, have several advantages over their peers, and this has been demonstrated by research.
An impressive number of neuropsychological studies have been dedicated to multilingualism. Many of them highlight the "practical benefit", being correlated with intellectual flexibility.
Here are the main benefits for your children:
- They have "gymnastics" for the brain
Constant use and switching between two or more languages is an excellent workout for the brain - the number of neurons in the prefrontal cortex increases just like muscles that grow through regular exercise. This finding has been supported in recent years by a multitude of American researchers, who have also pointed out that the study of two languages in parallel ensures verbal fluency and adaptation to change.
- Develop more cognitive skills
Recent British studies show that multilingualism has a positive effect on the ability to evaluate information and ignore irrelevant elements. Multilingual little ones can process information critically and are better at filtering distractions. This is directly related to the way and the environment in which they are raised. As they get older, they receive and process data from two sources and become accustomed to processing large amounts of information.
- Become more creative
People who speak two or more languages are often successful in the arts. Research shows that multilingual tend to notice subtleties and nuances that monolinguals find harder to notice. This talent can be noticed especially in the field of music, through the ability to distinguish sounds and songs.
- Communicate more easily, without fear
Bilingualism encourages a certain "divided personality" in a positive sense. Someone who lives such a "double life" is always calmer when communicating, because he knows he has a backup option at the end of the day. People who speak two languages literally distance themselves from negative feelings and can think more clearly, say American researchers. This awareness helps them to be open to relationships with different people and to gain more self-confidence.
- They are more protected from "old age of the brain"
US statistics show that the rate of dementia in countries where two languages are spoken is 50% lower than in regions where people speak only one.
Specialists believe that simple communication in several languages is comparable to the constant solution of logical problems, being a universal way to prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
The best age for a monolingual child to start studying if they want to grow up bilingually is the age of 4, according to experts from the best primary school near Bansdroni.
Until then, there is still a chance that the primary language, the one spoken at home, will not become exclusive and dominant. After the age of seven, the child's chances of acquiring a second language as a native speaker suddenly decrease.
It is estimated that a natural bilingual (a child raised in a bilingual family) hears about 45 million words in each language in the first three years of life. Therefore, active communication through dialogue is important, and passive viewing of cartoons is insufficient.
An amazing percentage of bilingual people worldwide
Today, 43% of people can be called bilingual. This is largely due to bilingual policies in the former colonies. Linguistic diversity in Asian countries is also a major factor. Globalization has once affected nations, and today it is not uncommon for a child's parents to have different backgrounds.