So it is no surprise that parents would base the quality of
education on their own personal experiences.
It is understandable because that is what they know.
When presented with the possibility of a bilingual education
for their children, many are intrigued by the opportunity, but are concerned
that something will be sacrificed.
For parents who grew up with bilingual education in the home
or the school, this is an easier choice with fewer concerns.
The classic question asked is, “How can you teach everything
in half a day?” And therein lies the
catch because we know that learning takes place all day long. The fact is that by having lessons taught in
two languages, students are learning to apply rules and concepts to different
settings, thereby actually enabling the brain to develop differently and into a
more flexible mind.
There are countless articles and lots of research
supporting bilingual education (click on the link to learn more). One example of the benefits is that research shows that bilingual students
outperform monolingual students on standardized tests, especially in the areas
of math and expressive language even
when bilingual students receive less instructional math time.
In fact, it is only
in America where the idea that one might speak in just one language has any
traction. In many countries, second and third languages are taught as a matter
of course. It provides
students with an understanding that we live in a global community in which one
must come to understand other languages, history, and cultures.
Perhaps the simplest answer to whether bilingual education
works is how a school’s graduates do in high school and college. In my experience, graduates of bilingual programs are
disproportionately represented in the ranks of leadership and scholarship as
evidenced by the number who take multiple honors and AP classes; serve as officers
in student government and youth groups; who are captains of varsity teams; and
who receive National Merit recognition.
We assume that parents who are considering a bilingual program are mindful of the fact that the
world is changing and along with new realities comes new approaches to learning
that are less focused on what we know and more focused on what
needs to be known in a rapidly evolving global community.
And if you don't believe me, you can check out this article by the ultimate authority (besides the Supreme Being), The New York Times.
