What are the benefits of Language Immersion and Bilingualism?
Children of today will more than likely need to be bilingual to be successful in the global society and economy of their adulthood. Today two languages are useful – tomorrow they will be required, and a third language will be desired. Childhood is the best time to develop an appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures, peoples, and perspectives in the world. Preschoolers are aware of differences, but harmful prejudices can develop during the elementary school ages. Consistent positive exposure and interaction are the best prevention. An optimal time to learn languages is prior to age eleven. Research on brain development in recent decades supports this claim, with wide discussion in the popular media. Our brains are wired to produce all sounds, but if we don’t learn to make certain sounds, we can lose that ability. (Some of us use this as a convenient excuse for our difficulty in learning another language as an adult, but it isn’t a barrier – just a reason to start young.) Child
