1. Increased cognitive development
Children that know a second language perform better in tasks that call for creative thinking, pattern recognition and problem solving. Young learners develop greater linguistic awareness and a more complex understanding of their native language.
2. Better academic achievement
Bilingual students’ brain function is improved as the mind is challenged to recognize, find meaning and communicate in multiple languages. A thirty-two year study by Thomas and Collier from George Mason University indicated that students who had a bilingual education and that spoke multiple languages had greater achievements than their monolingual peers, especially in maths, reading and vocabulary.
3. Improved memory
Children who learn a second and third language have better memories and are more cognitively creative than single language speaking counterparts. Research has indicated that bilingual people are usually better at remembering names, directions and items than those who speak one language.
4. Resistance to dementia
A recent study has shown that people who speak more than one language develop dementia symptoms an average of five years later and are able to cope with a greater level of brain dysfunction than their monolingual counterparts.
5. Increased economic opportunities
In an interconnected and rapidly changing world there is an increased need for a multilingual workforce and the ability to conduct business in more than one language is becoming more critical. Bilingual people often hold higher positions and earn better incomes than their monolingual counterparts in the same industry.