Growing Multilingualism
I grew up speaking one language…English. Even though as a child I had many friends of different nationalities, I had no felt need to learn another language. I could function just fine with English. I could communicate with my friends and live my life without the need of knowing a second language. But now with the global world we live in, I realize knowing multiple languages has huge advantages. Whether for work or travel, being able to communicate with others from different countries opens up new opportunities and friendships.
Now that I have kids, I have also come to know that raising multilingual children has become increasingly important in our interconnected world. The ability to communicate in multiple languages broadens children’s influence and opens doors for them as they grow and navigate an ever-changing global landscape. It would be easier for them to go abroad for college if they know the local language. Speaking of college, many of the top 100 colleges in the world offer courses in multiple languages and are located in non English speaking countries. In addition, I think the most impactful advantage of multilingualism would be more job opportunities. Employers are more willing to hire someone who can communicate with a wider audience of customers and clients. In fact, there are many jobs now that have multilingualism as a requirement.
Exposure to different languages not only enhances cognitive development, but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures. I remember meeting someone from New Zealand, and as we were getting to know each other, she said, “I can tell from your accent that you’re from America, correct?” My first thought was, “I don’t have an accent; you’re the one with an accent!”. Traveling abroad and living in other countries has helped me better understand and appreciate different cultures and languages. My home country is not necessarily the best or the standard others should strive for.
Parents play a crucial role in this process of language acquisition. We can create an environment that encourages language learning through books and multimedia resources. This can be done at home or at a language learning center. Embracing multilingualism can truly enrich a child’s worldview and set them on a path towards success in our multicultural society. My parents were hesitant to teach me another language because they mistakenly thought it would hinder my English language, but I have many friends who are bilingual (even trilingual!) because they grew up speaking more than one language. It’s never too early to start teaching your children another language. Start now!
Written by Stephen Lee