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My Bilingual Kids Are Smarter Than Your English Only Kids!

10:27 H | Topics: Bilingualism - Education - Language

Nanny, nanny boo boo. The fact that I speak English and Spanish to my children is actually boosting their English language skills, according to one article.

“Speaking two languages opens up a whole new world to children,” says Laurie Weaver, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Bilingual and Multicultural Studies at University of Houston-Clear Lake. “Not only will they be better prepared to understand others, they will also understand themselves and their own language better.”
Weaver is one of many parents who believes in the value of their children speaking two languages. Research has shown that kids who are routinely exposed to a second language from an early age, consistently score higher on English tests as an older child. Apparently learning a second language not only makes you bilingual, it also increases English proficiency.

Ok so the article is really about non-bilingual people who seek out ways to make junior bilingual, by getting a French speaking nanny or sending your kids to immersion schools for example. Funny how when put in this class context, bilingualism is ok, and may even give kids a leg up. But change the context a little. Bring into an immigrant neighborhood and talk about bilingual education in schools and suddenly, "Oh no! Those kids need more English!" But does class really matter in the big picture? Does being bilingual help only certain kids and hurt others (my child certainly was hurt by the NYC public school system by my admission of us being a bilingual family)?

Via / Education.com

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