Why the Best Private Schools Value Second Language Development
Enrolling your child in a private school has a lot of advantages. For instance, the classes are smaller, and the teachers at privately-run schools are more carefully chosen. One of the things emphasized by the best private schools is that children should learn a second language. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, up to the ages of seven and eight, children are able to learn a second language without an accent and with fluent grammar. Unfortunately, from there on, the ability to fully master a second language starts deteriorating.
If you’re thinking of sending your child to a privately-run school, here are some of the crucial reasons why they’re interested in second language development and why you should care, too!
Encourages Empathy
Children who learn two languages have been shown to have better social understanding. They generally understand other kids better when compared to monolingual children; they can readily detect particular features of communication like tone of voice, the rhythm of speech, and prosody. The hypothesis is that this developmental experience is a lot different from children who can only speak one language. This means that bilingual children have a more robust understanding of other students’ theory of mind and understanding.
Boosts Brain Function
According to National Public Radio, being able to speak two languages is good for a student’s brain development. Children who speak two languages are better at problem-solving, planning, multitasking, and concentrating. These cognitive advantages are noticed very early. In fact, infants who are in an environment that encourages speaking two languages show advancements in executive functioning as early as seven months of age — and these benefits will not stop when the child attends the best private schools and grows up.
Advantageous in Academics
Children who speak two languages have several advantages in school, one of them being literacy. Studies show that when children learn a second language, they display faster progress when learning how to read. They also tend to score higher than other students on future tests, including the SATs. Bilingual students have also been shown to have an easier time learning more languages down the line. This can give them a great edge in their professional careers. In fact, a lot of industries are looking for candidates who can speak several languages.
These are some of the reasons why the best private schools are interested in ensuring that children can speak a second language. Get in touch with Kehoe-France Southshore School to learn more. We would love to hear from you!
