Should Your Child Be Learning A Foreign Language?

Well… yes! By introducing your child to a foreign language and encouraging them to explore, you're not only investing in their future, but you are also giving them the opportunity to learn about different cultures and people. There really has never been a better time to start. Taking advantage of online language classes is an opportunity to keep your children busy and productive while schools are closed.  We hope this learning will emphasize the power of global communities coming together

6 reasons your child should learn a second language:

1) Improve cultural awareness Learning a second language will expose your child to another culture and increase their understanding of the world. When children study a second language they have more interest in reading foreign books, watching foreign films and making friends from different cultural backgrounds.

2) Increase occupational opportunities In a global world, multilingualism is an important skill. Speaking a second language will increase your child’s chances of working in multilingual communities, international companies, and abroad.

3) Provide an educational advantage Some studies have shown that children who are learning a second language score higher on college entrance exams in comparison to those who were not. And students who attend immersion programs are of interest to many university admissions offices.

4) Increase empathy A University of Chicago study showed that children who speak more than one language are better at understanding other people. Even kids who weren’t bilingual but were exposed to foreign languages regularly were better at understanding another’s perspective.

5) Boost brain power Learning a second language will improve your child’s cognitive abilities. It strengthens memory, helps children to problem solve and improves the ability to multitask. Research has found that bilingualism is linked to increased ability to non-verbal reasoning.

6) Increase understanding of native languages Studies show that children who are bilingual have a better understanding of their native language than kids who are monolingual. One study found that the reading ability of 134 children aged four and five years old found that those who were bilingual had a better understanding of general symbolic representation of print. 

If you would like to read more about Mexican culture, history, cuisine and language, check out our blog page for our latest monthly articles. You can also sign up to our newsletter to receive these straight to your inbox along with the latest news about our non-profit school for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. 

The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.