How Research in Favor of Bilingualism can Further Help Destigmatize Bilingualism in Schools

The authors of Early bilingualism, language attainment, and brain development, stress the importance of optimal periods for acquisition of a second language, referencing its similarities to the development of other senses, such as vision. Claiming that the absence of a stimulating environment can potentially lead to abnormal development in that sense. A result of diminished visual stimulation may be amblyopia, which is better known as lazy eye. The benefits of a simulated environment is a result of the research that has already started to be implemented in schools. And although much literature exists to support bilingualism and its contributions to creating a stimulating environment, the stigma behind speaking a second language is still prominent. Research in favor of bilingualism helps teach parents and educators the benefits of bilingualism and in turn creates safer environments for students that speak a second language. 

Merely two decades ago, California passed proposition 227 in favor of an “English first” education, which has since been reversed. Much of this decision lies on discriminatory foundations, in addition to research that supported the idea that monolingual English speakers academically performed better. In 6 Potential Brain Benefits of Bilingual Education, Anya Kamenetz points out that such research did not take into consideration the differences in social advantages. But, that more recent research describes younger students with similar standardized test scores despite language differences, indicating comprehension and pattern solving abilities.  

The research in Early bilingualism, language attainment, and brain development, additionally supports these observations. The writing claimed that acquisition of a second language had benefits for brain development and cognitive processes. Stating that “Exposure to more than one language from birth may provide one important approach to enhance a range of cognitive and language processes and facilitate overall brain development” (Berken et al. 223). Research in favor of early bilingual education however, additionally creates safer environments for bilingual students. Language confidence not only helps to open doors, but it also makes better students. Students in dual language programs have the opportunity to embrace their own second language or another. In More US schools teach in English and Spanish, but not enough to help Latino kids, Kristen Lam and Erin Richards describe 2 accounts of language confidence in a pre and post “English first” education setting. They describe the account of a current preschool teacher named Ramirez who was living in California and was eight at the time of proposition 227. Describing feelings of shutting down and lack of confidence, and that it is an experience they don’t want their own students to experience. However, Lam and Richards also describe the more recent and positive experience of 17 year old Kevin Sanchez, who has recently arrived to the US from the Dominican Republic and was able to win first place in a science fair. The article states that “Sanchez almost backed out from the fair when he learned that participants were required to make an oral presentation to the judges. Encouraged by his bilingual science teacher, Sanchez enlisted a friend to translate for him”. Although language confidence still has a ways to go, research in favor of bilingualism helps to advocate for these students. 

WORKS CITED

Berken, Jonathan A., et al. “Early Bilingualism, Language Attainment, and Brain Development.” Neuropsychologia, vol. 98, 2017, pp. 220–227., doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.031. 

Kamenetz, Anya. “6 Potential Brain Benefits of Bilingual Education.” NPR, NPR, 29 Nov. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/11/29/497943749/6-potential-brain-benefits-of-bilingual-education. 

Lam, Kristin, and Erin Richards. “More US Schools Teach in English and Spanish, but Not Enough to Help Latino Kids.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 24 May 2020, www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2020/01/06/english-language-learners-benefit-from-dual-language-immersion-bilingual-education/4058632002/.