The Cognitive Benefits of Bilingualism It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the views on the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” In fact, this is a quote from Frank Smith, one of the most influential psycholinguist who performed outstanding researches in linguistic and cognitive psychology. In brief, cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses. Indeed, his quote denotes meaning on how understanding more than one language can open many paths for an individual. Similarly, he developed work all over the globe for 35 years. In comparison with Frank Smith, other researchers
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For example, schools in Spain offer English as a second language, and schools in Kuwait (government schools) require students to take English as one of their main courses. Most of the students speak Arabic as a first language and learn English in school. On the other hand, those who attend English or American private schools are required to take an Arabic class. In the United States, most schools offer French, Spanish and other languages during a student’s secondary years of school. In fact, during their primary years, private sessions are available to learn a second language. Likewise, knowing two languages fluently holds cognitive benefits. According to dictionary.com, cognition is defined as the act or process of knowing; perception. This paper will focus on the research in the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. In a study conducted about protecting against age-related decline, it was found that bilingualism have both cognitive and neurological benefits that extend to later in life. In addition, it prevents decline in the brain. 200 bilingual and monolingual candidate patients with Alzheimer’s disease resulted in bilinguals showing 77.7 years of age, and monolinguals at 72.6. Indeed, this denotes that monolinguals do get Alzheimer’s earlier than bilinguals (Marian & Shook, The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, 2012). Does bilingualism hold cognitive …show more content…
In Viorica Marian and Anthony Shook’s article The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, they state that 56 percent of respondents in a survey conducted by European Commission in 2005 speak two languages. Bilingual people judge how language is used. They show better results on tasks. Also, They have brains that have amplified activation. In fact, they also show high responses to auditory information (Marian & Shook, The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, 2012). What is more is that in the brain, high proficiency in a second language shows higher volume in the parietal cortex where language is used. The parietal cortex is one of the four lobes in the brain and allows sensory information to be processed and the comprehension of language. However, if this part of the brain were damaged, humans would not be able to process sensory information or feel or touch. Likewise, bilinguals can access new words and gain larger vocabulary too. In Bilingual Two-Way Immersion Programs Benefit Academic Achievement, North Western University writers, Viorica Marian, Anthony Shook, and Scott R. Schroeder published a study on the effects of bilingual education on reading and math achievements. Similarly, bilingual education showed that in education programs, students had better performances in literacy skills. In the study, students were taught math, science, and social studies classes in Spanish, and reading and writing in their native language
For example, schools in Spain offer English as a second language, and schools in Kuwait (government schools) require students to take English as one of their main courses. Most of the students speak Arabic as a first language and learn English in school. On the other hand, those who attend English or American private schools are required to take an Arabic class. In the United States, most schools offer French, Spanish and other languages during a student’s secondary years of school. In fact, during their primary years, private sessions are available to learn a second language. Likewise, knowing two languages fluently holds cognitive benefits. According to dictionary.com, cognition is defined as the act or process of knowing; perception. This paper will focus on the research in the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. In a study conducted about protecting against age-related decline, it was found that bilingualism have both cognitive and neurological benefits that extend to later in life. In addition, it prevents decline in the brain. 200 bilingual and monolingual candidate patients with Alzheimer’s disease resulted in bilinguals showing 77.7 years of age, and monolinguals at 72.6. Indeed, this denotes that monolinguals do get Alzheimer’s earlier than bilinguals (Marian & Shook, The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, 2012). Does bilingualism hold cognitive …show more content…
In Viorica Marian and Anthony Shook’s article The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, they state that 56 percent of respondents in a survey conducted by European Commission in 2005 speak two languages. Bilingual people judge how language is used. They show better results on tasks. Also, They have brains that have amplified activation. In fact, they also show high responses to auditory information (Marian & Shook, The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual, 2012). What is more is that in the brain, high proficiency in a second language shows higher volume in the parietal cortex where language is used. The parietal cortex is one of the four lobes in the brain and allows sensory information to be processed and the comprehension of language. However, if this part of the brain were damaged, humans would not be able to process sensory information or feel or touch. Likewise, bilinguals can access new words and gain larger vocabulary too. In Bilingual Two-Way Immersion Programs Benefit Academic Achievement, North Western University writers, Viorica Marian, Anthony Shook, and Scott R. Schroeder published a study on the effects of bilingual education on reading and math achievements. Similarly, bilingual education showed that in education programs, students had better performances in literacy skills. In the study, students were taught math, science, and social studies classes in Spanish, and reading and writing in their native language