During the Covid Shutdown, my husband announced that he was going to learn two new skills: playing the guitar and speaking Spanish. Since my only goal was to binge watch Netflix, I was impressed!
Watching my husband become fluent in Spanish has been remarkable. I have literally watched him open doors to new and fun opportunities. His world has expanded and become more interesting. Spanish has been the key.
Next week, we start celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a great time to show off your language skills and start learning a new language. It is a SUPERPOWER.
1. Learning a Second Language Builds Brain Power. Studies show that bilingual students often develop stronger:
Memory and attention
Problem-solving skills
Multitasking abilities
2. Language Builds Empathy and Understanding. When students learn another language, they don’t just learn new words, they learn new cultures and perspectives. Their world literally grows.
4. Being Bilingual Is an Asset for Future Careers. Encouraging your child to learn or keep another language now can lead to more job opportunities later.
Healthcare
Education
Law enforcement
Business
International relations
Tourism and hospitality
5. Keeping the Home Language is Best. We encourage families to keep using it proudly. Research shows that when children maintain their home language while learning English, they perform better academically and feel more confident in their identity. Being bilingual is a superpower—and families play a huge role in helping students hold onto that gift.
Our students are CULTIVATING THEIR FUTURE through languages.
Written By: Susan Clark, HBR Multilingual Teacher