Why Bilingual Education in Early Childhood Sets Kids Up for Multicultural Succes

Speaking two languages can be incredibly beneficial for children, who can take those skills and use them as they age. It can be helpful in school, after school while interacting with friends, family, and strangers, and eventually in the professional world. Let’s talk about some of the many ways that learning more than one language could help kids be more successful. 

A Curiosity of Other Cultures and Ethnicities

Being bilingual could help develop a curiosity about other cultures and ethnicities. It can be wanting to learn more about different music, foods, art, language, and more. 

This curiosity is valuable when it comes to developing deeper social connections, including asking questions to understand better other topics they are unfamiliar with. It can also help improve kids’ empathy toward others and broaden their knowledge from the answers they receive and the conversations they have. This curiosity can also help with learning different perspectives and formulating new ideas that they use in their own lives and as a way to help others.

As many know, fostering social connections can be huge when it comes to being successful. Business deals are always achieved based on who people know and how they interact. 

Appreciation of Other Cultures and Ethnicities 

Being bilingual can also encourage the appreciation of other cultures and ethnicities. When children start early, they may understand the importance of learning more about music, art, food, etc., worldwide. 

Just like with being curious, having this appreciation can also help foster social connections, empathy, knowledge, and understanding. It can be beautiful when you connect with someone over a shared interest that both deem necessary. 

Different Job Opportunities

Many job listings nowadays request that applicants be bilingual, or–at the very least–they prefer it. This requirement can be incredibly huge in areas like healthcare and hospitality.  

Learning two languages from when they are young can allow children to be fluent before they apply for jobs. Sometimes, it may mean the difference between getting a desired position and the employer going with someone else who can better communicate with their clientele. 

Being bilingual is a skill teens can put on their resumes when they start looking for high school jobs if they want to apply for higher education and when they start looking for employment as an adult. 

Different Ways to Help People

Many volunteer opportunities, like translation, are available to bilingual people. For example, some volunteering opportunities open to adults involve going to another country. Knowing the native language can be beneficial while trying to learn more about the locals’ needs and how you can best help them.

Volunteering in a bilingual position can also be helpful for teens who want to put specific volunteering opportunities on applications, which can help them stand out from others who may have different experiences. 

Socialization Opportunities

We already touched on socialization in terms of curiosity and appreciation of cultures and ethnicities and how that can help with success. However, being bilingual can also be huge for communicating with people who speak the same languages as you from around the world, both personally and professionally. 

For example, say you need to travel to Italy to do business, and you are fluent in English and Italian, making it easy to communicate with people in the country who speak one or both languages. You can successfully communicate during business dealings and, after, talk to locals about where to get the best pasta nearby near the hotel where you are staying. It is an opportunity to make friends and make business moves. A bilingual child can grow up to have that same type of skill. 

Sense of Identity

It feels special to speak the language of your ancestors. This identification can allow people of all ages to feel more connected with those who came before them in their families. It can also encourage a sense of pride within children and a better understanding of who they are. Such a deep sense of self and identity can play a significant role in feeling comfortable with success, including professionally.  

Building Confidence

Any valuable skill we learn can help boost confidence. Learning two languages could help children establish a deeper level of confidence as they can have a sense of achievement in their abilities. It can continue to grow as kids become adults and get into different situations where being bilingual can be even more of an asset as they expand their social circles and apply for jobs. 

The sooner children start being bilingual, the better it can be for reaping the benefits. It can also give them ample time to master both languages and possibly even learn how to read and write. The process may be challenging, but it can be worth it if it can help their success as they grow into adulthood.

Sandra Chiu works as Director at LadyBug & Friends Daycare and Preschool.