Gabriela A.

Duarte
STACC English 1A
Professor: Taylor
January 27th, 2015

Benefits of knowing how to speak and write in more

than one language In America
Bilingual education plays an important role nowadays; being bilingual is being
able to speak and read in two languages not to mention the benefits that people have in
America just for speak more than one language, this benefits include better job
opportunities with high pay, a better life quality and knowing cultures and languages
from other countries that means that this people are bicultural. People who speak, read
and write in more than one language in America has many benefits in different ways
although United States is the country with opportunities being bilingual is a double
opportunity living in The United States.
The United States it is one of the unique countries since its birth been a
linguistically and culturally diverse nation with people living in the same country from all
over the world speaking different languages, forcing administrators this include bilingual
people who speak the adequate language and attend minority groups and to respond
adequately to their educational needs.
Being bilingual is very important in this country because there are many people
from different countries who speak different languages but some people who just came to

the United States dont know the language and need the help of people to be able to
communicate in their native language and need the help of people who speak their
language. Being bilingual by knowing more than one language is a skill that can be
appreciated and encouraged. Carol Dweck states in her article
People who speak two or more languages specially children have several
advantages even more advantages that people who was born in The United States and
have a higher education. For example; people who can learn a second language easily
once you have a solid foundation in their first language and also have access to a word
bank, known as cognates, which can help them in school, Benefits of maintaining the
parental language as children learn to read and write English. Carol Dweck states in
her article The perils and promises of praise how she explains that a
Growth mind-set creates motivation and resilience and leads to higher
achievement.
This statement makes me realize the importance of being
bilingual and how people who came from other countries, the majority
are Latinos who speaks Spanish and even though learning another
language Is a challenge for many people, peoples life change in a
good way realizing the importance to be bilingual in the United States,
and the importance to read. Know that I see the benefits of being
bilingual, I started to love books again; also I watch as many English
programs on TV and speak more English to my classmates.
This is how my life has changed since Ive moved to America, my life as
ESL (English as a second Language) has not be easy at all, but reading

and writing in another language that is not mine has helped me a lot to
develop my growth mind-set, this has change my ability and capacity to
think and developed my thoughts in English and also I realize how reading
becomes so important in our life.
In the article Dual-Language Programs Take Root in N.C. (cover story) explains the
importance of the dual programs and the success that schools who offer the programs
have had trough the time and high achievement levels of bilingual students who attend
these schools in the state, the global education initiative
Being bilingual helps people to get a better job, specially people who are living in
the United States where people from all over who are living in America speak different
languages, but the fact to prove that you can communicate with who do not speak your
native language opens many doors in the aspect that you do not just only be in contact
with people who speak your language but you have the possibility of being in contact
with people from other countries who have different cultures and power in this way work
with them and cooperate in almost anything, therefore helps you to communicate
progress on anything including work, and have an open-mind.
In the article The Benefits of English Immersion define bilingualism as a
powerful movement and how during the heaviest years of immigration to the United
States from the late 1880s through the 1960s there was no policy for immigrant children
in school, and parents started worry about it because they wanted their children to learn
another language, Hispanics parents took dramatic steps to direct their childrens
education, giving lie to the popular notion that immigrant and non-English-speaking
parent clamor for bilingual classes. This article explains the importance of learning

another language besides their native language, specially the children of immigrants
parent who came to America to have a better quality life and give their kids a higher
education, this people dont want their kids to forget about their culture and also dont
want them to forget where they come from thats why in the past immigrants claimed for
bilingual classes to their children.
Nowadays is very important to know another language, actually people are
deciding to go to another country to learn another language besides English, by learning
other languages they have many opportunities in United States, for example in schools of
California it is common that the students speaks both languages English and Spanish, but
the parents of this students dont speak English so it is very important that this parents
can communicate with the teachers to see what is going on with their kids.
Knowing more than one language increases cognitive skills. Bilingual children have
greater mental flexibility and leverage these skills to understand concepts and
mathematical or linguistic problems.
Comparatively, students who learn English and continue to refine their native language
achieve more in school and learn English better, than those who have learned English at
the expense of their first language.
By continuing improvement of their native language helps the child to appreciate their
cultural and national heritage by knowing the language is knowing their past, this make
them not forget about their culture thus helping to strengthen their own image.
By encouraging the use of native language, you can prepare for your child to interact with
his family and his language community, both in the United States and elsewhere., also in
the article Two-Way Bilingual Education: Students Learning through Two Languages.

Educational Practice Report: states how this kids who are bilingual benefit themselves
and how can languages be maintained and developed in the face of the dominance and
power of English in United States Society While these concerns and others need to be
addressed, it is concluded that two-way bilingual programs benefit united states
educations in three important ways by providing an effective approach to educating a
growing number of nonnative-English speaking students in an environment that promotes
both English language development and academic progress; by expanding the nation's
language resources; and by enhancing cross-cultural understanding and appreciation

The global need to employ bilingual people is increasing specially in the United States.
The ability to speak, read and write in two or more languages has great advantages in the
labor market, the companies need this people to work for them, this make their company
better. In the article A Rationale and Model for Bilingual/Bicultural Education makes a
connection about companies who need bilingual employees and how Bilingual/bicultural
education can be of benefit to all students, whatever their dominant language. These
citizens who are bilingual are consumers and contributors of service in both the public
and private sectors. Every professional able to offer service to clients in more than one
language, as the need arises, is of far greater value. Recently there has been a slight
resurgence of bilingual education in the United States, although too little is being offered
in most areas to meet any existing need. Bilingual/bicultural education is generally
defined, as "a curricular model through which the student is made competent to function
socially and professionally in two languages, and further, becomes sensitive to the
cultural, behavioral, and attitudinal ramifications of each". When considered in these

terms, the goal of instruction is not merely remediation, but the full development of the
student. Therefore, the cultural component in bilingual education is, in every sense,
essential. This article discusses the rationale for a bilingual/bicultural education program
and also the importance that bilingual/bicultural education has in all the sectors of the
companies and how this employees can feel identifying with the client and make a good
business, this people who speaks two languages have a higher opportunity in the
companies A model for such a program is briefly described.

Works cited
*Porter, Rosalie Pedalino. "The Benefits Of English Immersion." Educational
Leadership 57.4 (1999): 52. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
*Cortada, Rafael L. "Education For A Complex World: A Rationale And Model For
Bilingual/Bicultural Education." (1975): ERIC. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
*Christian, Donna, and Santa Cruz, CA. National Center for Research on Cultural
Diversity and Second Language Learning. "Two-Way Bilingual Education: Students
Learning Through Two Languages. Educational Practice Report: 12."
(1994): ERIC. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
*Maxwell, Lesli A. "Dual-Language Programs Take Root In N.C. (Cover
Story)." Education Week 34.8 (2014): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

Carol s Dweck- Educational Leadership - Vol. 65 - 2007