Learning a Second Language: Is it worth it for your child?

Learning a Second Language: Is it worth it for your child?

It’s no secret that learning a new language requires a strong commitment, focus and determination. You may have also heard about the benefits learning a new language can provide. Yet you can’t help but wonder: “Is learning a new language really worth it?”

Yet you can’t help but wonder: “Is learning a second language really worth it?”

It’s an inevitable question for parents who are considering putting their children in French Immersion. So to really examine the question of the value of bilingualism, we have to take a closer look at the pros and cons.

High Demand, Short Supply

Bilingual workers speaking English and French are highly in demand in the competitive girl working in frenchCanadian marketplace. A study conducted by Guelph University researchers revealed that men who know both languages earn an average income 3.8 per cent higher than those who know English only. Bilingual women earn 6.6 per cent more.

Fosters Intellectual Growth

Beyond the heightened income potential bilingual workers are privy to, studies also show that there are many intellectual and cognitive benefits associated with knowing more than one language. Multilingual brains have been shown to potentially be quicker and better able to deal with ambiguities and resolve conflicts. A multilingual brain could also be better at delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other forms of dementia.

Opens The Door To New Possibilities

Children that are exposed to another language, and therefore another culture, develop open minds and a greater understanding of the complexities of different cultures, countries, and languages. Learning a language like French means your child can access 53 countries since it is one of the most wide-spoken languages in the world! It opens a whole new world of possibilities to meet new people, travel experiences and work opportunities that were not possible behind the language barrier.

Tweetable: “A new language is a new vision of life” @CampTournesol

With All Of That In Mind, Why Not Learn A Second Language?

When parents are trying to determine whether or not to encourage their child to invest time into learning a second language, their main concern is that the time spent learning French could mean other subjects will suffer. In particular, many non-french speaking parents fear that if they put their child in French Immersion, then their child’s English speaking and writing skills will be negatively affected.

children in french immersion

As the director of a French Camp, I can say with confidence that this is not something that I have observed. On a personal note, I raised 3 boys through the French Immersion and Francophone school system in Ontario, and they have all excelled in both French and English. For example, studies suggest that students who learn how to read in one language typically transfer that knowledge to other languages without significant problems.  Another example is the study by Canadian Parents For French on EQAO testing results across Ontario which also supports this notion: “at Grade 6 in contrast to Grade 3, students in immersion clearly outperformed those in the regular program on EQAO tests in both literacy and mathematics”

So how do you ensure that your child will get the best of both worlds?

We know it is not necessarily for everyone but we found that in most cases, success comes down to your child’s determination and motivation to learn and weather the missteps in their language-learning adventure.

Now I want to hear from you: Do you think learning a new language is worth it for your child? Why or why not?

Search

Hum...we could not save your information, can you please try again.
Welcome To The Family!

Subscribe

Spring Flash Sale

20$ OFF

20$ off per week, no discount code needed, register before April 15th to get the discount!