Bilingualism gives your child and advantage
- The ability to speak more than one language isn’t uncommon. Between 60% and 75% of the world’s population speaks more than one language.
Education
- You don’t have to be a Welsh speaker yourself for your child to benefit from Welsh medium education. 64 % of children in Flintshire who enter Welsh medium education come from families where Welsh is not spoken at home*. It’s perfectly possible for children to thrive without parents speaking Welsh to them – but of course, if you can then, you are giving them an even greater advantage!
- Children acquire languages quickly - it is far easier for a young child to learn a language than it is for adults.
- Bilingual children also find foreign languages easier to learn – a clear advantage at high school and university.
“Research from a number of different countries shows that bilingual pupils tend to do better in IQ tests and creative assessments.” Professor Colin Baker, International Expert in Bilingual Education.
Social
- A child who is able to speak two languages is able to mix and communicate with a wider variety of people, and therefore have a more diverse social life.
- Bilingualism broadens children’s horizons, as they will have access to two cultures, two ways of thinking and an opportunity to participate fully within the local community.
- Researchers from Canada have demonstrated that bilingualism has a positive effect on the brain by keeping it active later in life and has even been shown to reduce the risk of dementia.
Careers
- Opportunities in the workplace - employers are increasingly looking to employ staff possessing comprehensive skills in both Welsh and English. Studies show that people with Welsh language skills earn 9 – 11% more than monolingual people. **
* Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) January 2011
** Careers Wales