Is bilingualism an advantage? Between myths and facts.

When it comes to raising bilingual children, myths and misunderstandings are common… for this reason, this article will organise this information, helped by scientifically based facts. 

I am quite sure that the majority of the parents who want to raise a bilingual kid once in their life have asked themself one of these questions: 

• Are bilingual children confused? 

• Does bilingualism make children smarter? 

• Is earlier better? 

• Are bilingual children more likely to have language difficulties, delays, or disorders?

For a better understanding of this concept we need to clarify what we mean when we talk about bilingualism. Essentially we use this word to indicate the ability to understand and/or use two or more languages. 

When kids are exposed to two languages from birth they are called simultaneous bilinguals, meanwhile, when the second language is introduced after the first one the children are called sequential bilinguals. 

Before analysing specifically some of the linguistic reasons why bilingualism is an advantage, we don’t have to forget that it also has an extremely significant social, emotional and cultural role. It can help kids to speak with members of one’s extended family, maintain a connection to family culture and history, or even make friends from different backgrounds.

After this introduction, let’s dive into the false myths and try to find an explanation with facts.

Are bilingual children confused? No, they aren’t!

So why sometimes do they mix the two languages? This is called code-mixing and is commonly used by kids, in addition to being a physiological part of bilingual development. It happens when they are talking and might not remember how to say a specific word in that language so the quickest solution for them is to use the respective word from the second language.  

Is earlier better? Yes, as most of the studies show

The answer is given by a mix of biological and environmental factors. On one side it is seen how kids in the first years of life are more receptive to language and there is a decline in language learning abilities with age. In addition, when they are very young they are more exposed to the languages since they are typically in a relationship one to one with the caregiver. This gives them the possibility to receive hours and hours of practice every day. Older children and adults might not have the same amount of hours to devote to learning a second language or if they have it the learning is typical thanks to school lessons (which is different). Another reason why it is recommended to start as soon as possible to expose the kids to a second language is that they can have advantages in their pronunciation, their grammar skills and their vocabulary.  

Are bilingual children more likely to have language difficulties, delays, or disorders?

Bilingual children are not more likely than monolingual children to have difficulties with language, to show delays in learning, or to be diagnosed with a language disorder. Just like some monolingual children have a language delay or disorder, a similar proportion of bilinguals will have a language delay or disorder. Evidence that one bilingual child has language difficulty, however, is not evidence that bilingualism leads to language difficulties in general. 

TAKE HOME MESSAGE!

What is essential to remember as parents who want to raise their kid as bilingual is that he is born ready to learn languages of their environments without confusion or delay. To promote a successful bilingual development, parents have to expose their children to both languages for the same amount of time. As children get older interacting with monolingual speakers (especially other children) is important for motivating ongoing language use.

Bibliography:

1. Byers-Heinlein, K., & Lew-Williams, C. (2013). Bilingualism in the Early Years: What the Science Says. LEARNing landscapes, 7(1), 95–112.