Hind Louali Discusses Why Bilingualism Should be Encouraged

Bilingualism can affect positive change in the life of a person. It can improve their ability to see situations from another’s perspective, and hence can foster empathy and tolerance towards others. Hind Louali points out that the experience of a bilingual child with two language systems can provide them with high mental flexibility, superiority in concept formation, and a more diversified set of mental abilities. Certain cognitive scientists and neurologists have underlined that cognitive skills in the brain’s frontal lobes of bilingual speakers often tend to support high-level thought, memory, attention and multitasking. Hence, it is always a good idea to encourage bilingualism. 

Hind Louali briefly marks a few benefits of bilingualism

For many people, the desire to speak a foreign language tends to be a lifelong dream. On the other hand, learning a new language is a necessity for children whose parents have relocated to a country where they cannot use their native language. However, a growing body of research does show that bilingualism offers a range of benefits that go beyond the ability to function in a different country and culture. 

Here are some of the major reasons why bilingualism must be encouraged: 

• Increase brain power: Learning a new language is a good way to keep the brain sharp and healthy. Bilingualism can help a person to improve their multitasking and problem solving skills. It may even elevate their creative prowess by promoting outside-the-box thinking. Being bilingual may even improve the memory of a person, which comes as a huge advantage in many aspects of daily life. 
• Provide children with an academic advantage: In many cases, bilingual kids outperform monolingual ones in many subject areas. The effects of bilingualism can be useful in improving the educational development of a child, along with their cognitive functions and social skills. These capabilities can help children to fare better in academics, and can also have a lasting impact throughout their lives. 
• Increase awareness of other cultures: Being bilingual exposes a person to diverse perspectives, ideas and customs from varying cultures. While it is definitely possible to learn about other cultures without knowing a second language, knowing the native language does allow for a more immersive experience.
• Improve competitiveness in the job market: Having the capability to understand and speak a second language can expand the job opportunities available to a person. Proper communication is extremely vital in the workplace, and an increasing number of companies, particularly the ones with international offices, are prioritizing bilingualism. Being able to communicate with foreign clients or customers can provide people with a much-needed edge in the competitive job market of today. 
• Can better raise bilingual kids: A bilingual person would be able to raise their kids to be bilingual, and help them to acknowledge the importance of their heritage and culture. Being bilingual often helps kids to develop a stronger personal identity.

Hind Louali mentions that speaking a second language can even open up a range of social opportunities for a person, and help them to improve their social skills and confidence.