Language Smarts Are School Smarts

In recent years, schools have been emphasizing more and more the importance of travel, studying abroad, and early exposure to foreign languages. Language opens the mind to learning something completely new as well as embracing another culture and all the aspects that make cross-cultural experiences so wonderful.

Most of us have probably taken a foreign language course for a year or two in high school or college. We might remember a few phrases or words, but our language skills most likely faded over time – even if we studied abroad. However, this isn’t the case for children who start learning a second language early on.

Children who begin studying foreign languages as early as the age of three, or simply placed in an environment where they hear more than one language daily, benefit tremendously. These young brains are able to absorb a foreign language so quickly that they are able to learn to speak that language fluently and without an accent.

If you’re still not convinced about the developmental and cognitive perks of teaching children a foreign language, the following facts might win you over:

Smarter Kids

As we mentioned earlier, learning a new language aids in cognitive development. Not only that, studies show that bilingual students earn better grades and have better standardized test scores than their peers. Bilingual children also demonstrate stronger memory skills, built up from remembering the intricacies of speaking and learning a second language.

Helps With Native Language Skills

Learning new words, grammar structures in a different language helps kids better understand how language works, allowing them to better understand their native language. It might even make them better readers and writers in their mother tongue.

Broadens Horizons

Learning a new language is more than just picking up vocabulary and grammar – you also learn about the culture and society surrounding that language. A child learning a second language will have a broader, more-educated view of the world. We live in an increasingly globalized society, and learning another language helps your child to be culturally aware of others.

At Ivy League, we believe in exposing our students to new languages at a young age, when their young brains are most capable at absorbing new skills. Students learn vocabulary, basic conversational skills, and cultural awareness through visuals, songs, and interactive stories and games. Our dedicated instructors help children obtain an in-depth understanding of how languages work and how languages are interconnected.