Why Is It Important To Learn A Second Language At School?

One of the best ways to make use of your children’s free time is to encourage them to start learning a new skill. Children who perform well in school academics are those that are keen to learn something new every day, be it mastering a new skill such as painting or singing or learning a second language.

We live in a multilingual society, where maintaining social connections are more important than ever. However, there is an enormous number of benefits to being bilingual. As the result, your child is able to perform well in school and their chosen careers. Lastly, it can help in improving the memory and brain functions of your child. This can further help in increasing the understanding of the languages your child already knows.

It can reshape your child’s career to a great extent. However, with English being the world’s widely used language, many parents believe that it’s not important to learn a new language. However, these are not the only advantages of learning a second language at school. As a parent, it is important to make your child understand the social and psychological benefits too.

We have curated a list of important factors that will help your children to develop an understanding of the second language.

1. It Helps in Enhancing Creativity in Children

One of the greatest benefits of learning a second language is that it helps in enhancing creativity in the student. The course syllabus that makes up the foundation for a second language program goes beyond learning the vocabulary, and grammar. The process of learning encourages students to learn, and understand their culture and traditions. It also helps the learners to indulge in visual and audio entertainment which will further help in strengthening their base. The audio and visual entertainment can comprise of the following- listening to music and reading books written in that language.

Related Article: Top 5 Reasons Why Your Kid Should Learn Foreign Languages

2. It Helps in Creating New Travel Opportunities

Well, who doesn’t like to travel? We are pretty sure that your kids love traveling. And by learning a second language your children can convert their passion for traveling into a reality. If your child has been studying French at school they will find it quicker to visit and settle in France. The best part is that your child will be able to settle well and find a job with ease. Their knowledge of a second language will enable them to travel and meet new people from all over the world.

3. It Helps in Increasing Self-Confidence

When your kids will study and speak another language, they will be able to achieve a milestone that you have set. This alone will give them confidence, especially when interacting with other children.

4. It Helps in Simplifying the Process of Decision Making

As a parent are you always stressed that your kids may make a bad decision? Well, learning a second language could be a life-changer! The ability to make quick and informed decisions turns out to be fairly easy for children with other bilingual skills.

5. It Helps in Stimulating Curiosity in Children

Learning a second language at an early age will help in stimulating a child’s curiosity and will make them more receptive to learning. They will be better aware of all the things that are happening around them. Mastering a new language will also help your kids to develop a better understanding of the world around them.

6. It Helps in Making You Culturally More Aware

Language is one of the most important things that also serves as a basis for developing a direct connection with other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language will expose your child to and foster appreciation for the traditions. As the result, your child will be able to express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.

7. It Helps in Gaining a Positive Perspective

As your children will explore a new language and culture, they will be able to draw comparisons to what is most familiar to them. Learning about new culture will make your kids learn more about the aspects of their own culture- both positive and negative.

8. It Helps in Boosting Their Academic Achievement

The cognitive benefits of learning a second language can have a direct impact on a child’s academic performance. Therefore, bilingual children will have an improved sense of reading, writing, and other important skills.

9. It Helps in Mastering in Their Mother Tongue

Children who learn another language before the age of 5 use the same part of the brain to strengthen that second language that they use to learn their mother tongue. Younger children are not even afraid of committing mistakes, which can sometimes act as an obstacle for older children.

10. It Helps in Strengthening Personal Development

By introducing your child to the second language, they will be exposed to new ideas and new challenges which will, in turn, lead to personal growth and development. As the result, your child will be able to see themselves and the world differently around them. At last, learning a second language is something to be proud of and you should always encourage your child to learn something new.

Related Article: 5 Lifelong Benefits of Learning Urdu & Arabic

Benefits of Learning a Second Language

Apart from learning and understanding the importance of a second language, it is also vital to have an understanding of the benefits that it has in store for you.

1. Improves Attention Span

With the human attention span narrowing down increasingly, as per many studies, learning a new language may be the ultimate solution for this problem. Researchers indicate that learning a second language helps the brain maintain focus and block unwanted distractions.

2. Enhances Multitasking Skills

Not many people are good at multitasking. However, this situation may always imply bilingual people. In fact, they are the ones who are the most experienced when it comes to multitasking. Their brain is extremely adaptive as the individual will be switching between one language and another. Perhaps, once the brain gets used to this routine of switching from one language to another, they can master almost every skill with the same consistency.

3. Improves Your Memory

The brain is often compared to muscles. The more physical exercise you do, the more muscles tend to strengthen and get stronger. Well, this applies to the brain too. The more you challenge it, the more the brain expands, and the better it functions. Hence, you can think of learning a language as an exercise for the brain. Initially, you are supposed to learn the basics of the language followed by mastering the basic grammar rules and vocabulary, which also strengthens your memory muscle. That is also the reason why people who know more than one language are likely to retain information. As a result, your kids will be better able to remember lists, names, and cell phone numbers.

4. Improvises Your Kid’s Networking Skills

When your child is exposed to a new language, you are also likely to open up to the traditions and culture of that language. Doing so will enable your child to be more apprehensive about other people’s actions and opinions. Their ability to communicate in a new language will put them at the advantage of seeing the world from another perspective.

Final Thoughts

Learning a second language enhances all the aspects of your kid’s life. Surprisingly, when it comes to learning the options are endless at PiggyRide!

From online French classes to online Spanish classes, you can explore an extensive range of foreign languages with PiggyRide and equip your little learners with proper linguistic skills.