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It makes us smarter! It develops the brain functions and the positive effects of bilingualism to the brain help us until our old age..!

Bilingualism

It allows us to confidently communicate with people from other countries.

We can manage human relationships better as it develops our emotional intelligence.

Bilingualism matters

 

 

Bilingualism is a skill far superior to the simultaneous use of another language alongside the mother tongue. It is the process of learning it and the exposure of the child to a different culture that ultimately strengthens the intelligence of infants and toddlers, both mentally and emotionally, stepping stones that can be given now and facilitate them throughout their lives.

 

 

There is now an awareness that the introduction of one or more languages ​​should be done at as young an age as possible. Even from the age of 2-3 months. Infant brains are primed to receive any information and assimilate it “naturally.” Then, it is this information—stimulus available to infants and young children that will shape their brain capabilities and enhance their potential. The more stimuli you give your children, talking to them, hugging them, playing with them and showing them the world, the more intelligent and socialized adults they will become.

 

Exposing your babies to another language - culture and giving them the opportunity to become bilingual,  in addition to being able to travel without language barriers and having better educational and professional opportunities, you allow them to develop their brain functions. Bilingual children from the first months of life show more developed cognitive skills, skills that facilitate them throughout their lives, They think more complex and more creatively, they learn from an early age to take  decisions and use their logic. The human brain by the age of 3 years is almost formed and by the age of 5 years has reached 90% of its potential.

 

 By exposing your babies to one more language - culture and giving them the opportunity to become bilingual, in addition to being able to travel without language barriers and having better educational and professional opportunities, you allow them to develop their brain functions. Bilingual children from the first months of their lives display more developed cognitive abilities, abilities that facilitate them throughout their lives. They think more complex and more creatively, they learn from an early age to make decisions and use their logic. The human brain by the age of 3 is almost fully formed and by the age of 5 it has mastered 90% of its potential.

Misconceptions associated with  bilingualism 

Myth: Children are like "sponges" and learn a language immediately when they hear it

Becoming bilingual is not a process that happens automatically because a child is exposed to one language. The need to use it is what plays a decisive role. Acquiring bilingualism presupposes dedication and frequent use of the language.

 

Myth: Bilingualism is a "charming" exception for others.

Bilingualism is no exception! This happens in monolingual countries, such as Greece. More than half of the world's population uses 2 or 3 languages ​​in their country at the same time in their daily lives. Consider the case of Switzerland, Belgium, etc.

 

Myth: Bilingualism delays speech or is associated with dyslexia

  This is a myth that was promoted in the middle of the last century, when studies of bilingual children were limited to immigrant populations in America, where children were poorly educated and lived under intense stressful conditions. More recent studies have proven that bilingualism, as long as it is done in a balanced family and educational environment, not only does not delay the development of speech, but gives priority to the development of the brain at a cognitive and metacognitive level. Regarding dyslexia, statistical studies show that the rate of dyslexia between monolingual and bilingual cultures is the same.

Myth: If parents want their children to become bilingual, they should follow the "one language per parent" method
In reality, there are actually many ways to make a child bilingual. For example, one parent one language, the other parent another. Another language inside the home, another language outside the home. Another language among the family, another at school, etc. What matters is THE NEED for the child to use the language, which is basically created unconsciously. This is where the "each parent one language" method often fails, as the child gradually feels that the one language (the weaker one) is not actually necessary. For example, if a child speaks English and Greek at home, and lives in Greece going to a Greek school, it is most likely that they will become what is called "passive bilingual" where they will understand both languages ​​but will use the stronger one. So in order for a child to become actively bilingual there must be a need for them to use the different languages.
 

Myth: Bilingual children confuse languages

Children learn when the interlocutor's language ability allows them to use both languages at the same time and when they should use only one. This is also the case with bilingual adults, as some expressions and meanings are more appropriate in one language than in another. 




1.  François Grosjean's new book Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010) 

2.  A short text, "What parents want to know about bilingualism", by François Grosjean 

3.  An interview of François Grosjean on bilingualism

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