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Q: The Benefits of Learning a Second Language

People go through situations all too often where another language is being spoken that they don’t know. [...] They feel uncomfortable and they wish that they could interact with these people and know what they are talking about. Well, there is a solution to this problem. [...] The solution is that U.S. schools should require students to learn a second language because it increases brain power, understanding and appreciation of other cultures, garners them more opportunities in the work field, yields higher test scores, and many other indisputable advantages.

[...] One of the most valuable benefits of learning a second language is the effect it has on your brainpower and the cognitive gains that come with it. A great deal of research over the years has shown just how beneficial being bilingual is to one’s intelligence. According to Naja Ferjan Ramirez and Patricia Kuhl’s article titled, “The Brain Science of Bilingualism,” A growing body of evidence suggests that bilinguals ranging from young children to mature adults show enhancements in both executive functioning, and cognitive flexibility (Ramirez and Kuhl 41). Executive functioning is a set of cognitive processes that include attentional and inhibitory control skills, while cognitive flexibility aids problem solving and planning. Executive functions are monumental in the development of children because they aid them in teamwork skills, leadership, decision making, and critical thinking; meanwhile, cognitive flexibility is essential because it contributes to analyzing situations and adapting when needed. These two aspects are crucial in life and especially important for children. The intellectual benefits of bilingual education are not only present when faced with day-to-day tasks, they are also at hand when looking at test scores of those who are bilingual compared to those who speak one language. According to the College Entrance Examination Board, students who averaged four or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the SAT than those who studied four or more years in another subject area [...] (Marcos 4). This just shows the gap that bilingual brains have compared to monolingual brains.

[...] Another reason U.S. students should be required to learn another language is that it gives students a deeper understanding and appreciation for the other cultures and it helps people better connect and understand other customs and heritages. When people can speak to others in their own native language they deepen connections and understanding. This opens up doors around the world; whether traveling through a foreign country or shopping at the local grocery store (one connector). In Learning New Languages and Traveling, the author states “learning a new language will allow us to communicate with people from different backgrounds and countries, explore traditions and embrace cultural differences” (Kumbala). He also goes on to say, “we will be able to connect with individuals in places that we would never dream of visiting, thus opening doors to collaboration and friendship, and for new, wonderful opportunities” (Kumbala). Not only can learning the language improve communication, but it also comes along with a great deal of cultural insight that can help children appreciate their family’s perspective. Even if a person’s family does not speak the language that they are learning, being around the language and learning the traditions that come along with the language help the person better understand and connect with the natives. This makes traveling more fun and enjoyable. Speaking the language of the natives broadens children's perspective and helps them experience the diversity of the world first-hand. This is especially true if the second language they are learning is Spanish. Learning Spanish allows people to travel to the many Spanish-speaking countries and immediately experience things that they wouldn’t be able to if they only spoke English. Learning a foreign language as a child gives them a lifetime to benefit from more enriching travel experiences, and connect with other cultures and traditions.

One of the better long-term benefits of speaking two languages is the advantage that it gives people in the work field. Knowing a second language makes their resume stand out and can boost them to the top of the interview list with potential employers. [...] According to Kathleen Marco’s article, “Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language?” “Americans fluent in other languages enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, improve global communication, and maintain our political and security interests” (Marcos 5). This points out that Americans who possess skills in another language, help contribute to business in other countries where different languages are present; therefore, making business flow smoother and trouble-free. Being a bilingual employee can also renders students more money in the future. According to AOL Careers, bilingual employees can earn between 5% and 20% more money per hour than those who speak only one language (Kreisa). As a matter of fact, in a newspaper article written by Jennifer Mena, she pointed out that in a proposal requiring City Council approval in Fort Worth, Texas, “workers who pass a test would receive $75 extra each month if they can translate written documents”, and that “employees who can orally translate for those seeking services would receive an additional $50 monthly” (Mena). This is because these employees have a useful skill that brings in more revenue, so their companies pay them accordingly. Being able to speak more than one language allows people to communicate with a wider range of people, which is especially helpful in the healthcare or education field. The healthcare field is an enormous and growing field that is constantly seeking doctors, nurses, and technicians who speak a second language to meet the needs of patients of different cultures. These companies want to hire versatile employees who can speak other languages and navigate different cultural expectations. In fact, in 2016, CNN Business named bilingualism as the best skill for job seekers (Kurtz). If you work in customer service, as a sales representative, human resources, public relations, or marketing, speaking another language will highly assist you in communicating with your customers and fellow employees.

Just as the advantages of speaking two languages are apparent, the teaching of another language is just as important. [...] There are many different ways that people have tried to teach languages to people. One of the more effective teaching methods is foreign language elementary school programs (FLES). These programs introduce a second language as a subject in schools such as science or math and include three-five sessions per week. Students who are enrolled in these programs for several years showed substantial proficiency in the language being taught (Marcos 5). Another program for second language learning is immersion programs. Immersion programs allow children to spend part or all of the school day learning a second language. These programs are available in a limited number of schools and incorporate the second language in all of the children’s subjects such as math, social studies, science, etc. There are also partial immersion programs that operate on the same principle, but only a portion of the curriculum is presented in the second language (Marcos 5). Marcos stated that “Under this type of program, a child may learn social studies and science in Spanish or French in the morning and learn mathematics and language arts in English in the afternoon” (Marcos 5). This allows the students to involve both of their languages in their learning experience. Marcos also stated that “Children enrolled in immersion programs work toward full proficiency in the second language and usually reach a higher level of competence than those participating in other language programs” (Marcos 5). This proves that immersion programs, either partial or full, is the most effective way to learn a second language in schools.

Another very crucial aspect in second language learning is what age the person learns the second language. This affects how proficient and fluent one gets in their second language. The common thought around language learning is the earlier children learn the language, the better. This is indeed true, due to the many studies that have backed it up. [...] According to authors Scott Kissau, Mary Adams, and Bob Algozzine in their article titled “Middle School Foreign Language Instruction: A Missed Opportunity?”, they stated that when they compared students who started learning French in kindergarten to those who started learning French in seventh grade, they found that “while late-start students were able to catch up to their early start peers in regard to writing and reading comprehension skills, early-start students demonstrated stronger oral communication and listening comprehension in the second language” [...] (Kissua et al). Even though people can learn a language at an older age, their complete mastery of the language will suffer compared to early age learners. Additional studies have further proved that the earlier a student learns a language the better their results will be. Authors Kissua, Adams, and Algozzine also stated that when they looked at second language skills in learners of English in the United Kingdom and Poland, they discovered that “students who started learning English in an immersion setting before age 12 were more familiar with the preferred speech patterns and expressions of the target language than their peers who started at a later age (Kissua et al). Also, starting a language learning program in high school can be challenging due to the fact that high school is more academically focused and emotionally challenging than middle school or elementary school. Take into account a personal statement from a student who wishes she was introduced to a second language learning program earlier than high school. Jessica states that “High school is much more difficult than middle school, and it is just hard to try to start a new language while balancing everything else. Having the background knowledge and interest in the language already, and just continuing that into high school would have been really helpful” (Kissua et al). Jessica’s troubles and her desire to have access to a second language program earlier in her schooling further prove that the earlier one learns a second language, the better their experience and their results will be.

[...] In other countries around the world, learning a second language is a requirement for students in school. Unlike these countries, the United States has failed in making a second language a requirement for students in early age school. For example, successful language programs in other countries consistently start before high school. [...] In Thailand, students begin learning English in first grade, and in Luxembourg, German is a mandatory subject in first grade, but in America, most students do not begin studying a foreign language until high school. (Kissua et al). These other countries have been successful in incorporating these mandatory language programs into their curriculums, and the results don’t lie. According to Kissua, Adams, and Algozzine, “only 9% of American adults can speak more than one language fluently, compared to more than half of their European counterparts” (Kissua, Adams, Algozzine 2015). This bilingual gap between the United States and European countries clearly points out that the U.S. is behind the eight ball when it comes to second language learning programs, and needs to get on track.

[...] On the other hand, some have argued that a second language can impinge one’s intelligence and cognitive ability. [...] In fact, in a New York Times article Yudhijit Bhattacharjee stated that “Researchers, educators, and policy makers long considered a second language to be an interference, cognitively speaking, that hindered a child’s academic and intellectual development” (Bhattacharjee). They believe that a second language can hurt a child in the long run and hinders their ability to learn. In reality, there has been a great extent of research that points the other way. Although there is a bit of an interference due to the fact that both languages are activated when using one language, this is not a negative thing whatsoever. In Bhattacharjee’s article, he also stated that “this interference, researchers are finding out, isn’t so much a handicap as a blessing in disguise. It forces the brain to resolve internal conflict, giving the mind a workout that strengthens its cognitive muscles” (Bhattacharjee). This interference can also be referred to as language competition. This occurs when a bilingual person hears a word in one language, and their other language becomes activated. Bilingual brains adapt to the repeated activation of both languages, ultimately strengthening their brain and more specifically their frontal lobe and subcortical regions (Hewings-Martin). Next, the claim that a second language hurts a child’s intellectual development is false and lacking evidence. [...] A study done by the University of Redlands explored early infancy English and Spanish speaking children and concluded that bilingual brains stay open longer before showing the perceptual narrowing that children only exposed to one language do (Lorenz). Also, a study done by the University of Washington focused on infants who only speak English and were exposed to Spanish in a lab setting. This study concluded that learning a second language did not affect their English proficiency, it actually caused their brains to become more efficient in processing English. Furthermore, it stated that infant’s brains have a lot of “plasticity,” and they can adapt to different learning situations (Lorenz). These studies proved that a second language doesn’t have any harmful effects on a child’s brain development and that they even benefit from being bilingual. Lastly, there have been studies done that proved learning a second language can protect against Alzheimer's, and a lower rate of diagnosis as well (Moskowitz). In the “Brain Science of Bilingualism,” Rameriz and Kuhl state, “the accumulating effects of dual language experience have been linked to more robust cognitive abilities with increased age and to a lower rate of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease” (Craik et al). All in all, multiple studies have proven against this counterargument and further verified that learning a second language has many cognitive benefits.

In conclusion, U.S. schools should require students to learn a second language. The benefits that students would reap are unquestionable, and evidence clearly backs that up. These benefits include an increase in brainpower, a deeper appreciation of cultures other than their own, more opportunities in the work field, higher test scores, and many other indisputable advantages. [...] These benefits give students great advantages moving forward in life and ones that they will be forever grateful for.
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