Bilingual means being able or accustomed to using two languages well. Bilingual adults have higher activity in brain areas related to executive function, according to a number of studies on the brain. Executive functions are mental abilities that include problem solving, changes in attention, and other cognitive traits.
Apparently, the superiority of brain activity in bilingual people can also be owned by babies who are raised in a bilingual family environment. These new findings reveal that since babies from bilingual families are early and start producing their first words, which is around 11 months, their brains have different activities than children raised with one language.
There is nothing wrong if Father and Mother try to raise children in a bilingual environment from an early age. Not without reason, children can get several benefits and advantages as follows.
Higher cognitive abilities
A study revealed that even before babies start talking, babies who are raised in bilingual households become accustomed to doing tasks related to executive functions. This shows that bilingualism not only shapes children's language development, but also cognitive development more broadly.
In addition, several studies have shown that children who are accustomed to bilingualism also tend to be more creative and faster in solving problems, compared to other children who are not accustomed to bilingualism. When entering school age, bilingual children tend to have better academic and analytical skills as well as superior writing and reading skills in two languages.
Easier to learn new languages
These bilingual children will find it easier to learn a third language and so on in the future. This is because babies from bilingual families have the ability of the brain to be more open to learning new language sounds, rather than those from monolingual or monolingual families. This shows that the brain of a bilingual baby is easy to adjust to the situation.
Stronger brain response
Executive functions as described above occur in a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. Research shows that when listening to conversation, the response of this brain area is stronger in bilingual babies.
Through another study, it was found that babies raised in English and Spanish-speaking families display neural sensitivity for English and Spanish. That is, the baby is learning both languages. In addition, bilingual babies have sensitivity to English sounds, the same as monolingual babies from English-speaking families. That is, bilingual babies learn English at the same level as monolingual babies. This answers the concerns of parents, whether a bilingual baby can master each language well or only half-half, and the results are apparently able to master each language well.
Can distinguish various languages
Some parents think that if a child is introduced to two languages at once, the child may become confused and unable to distinguish between these languages. This assumption turns out to be wrong, Mother.
Basically since a few days after birth, babies can distinguish many languages, especially against languages that are much different, for example between French and Arabic. At a young age, babies generally still have difficulty distinguishing two languages that are very similar, such as between English and Dutch. But when approaching the age of six months, babies can begin to do it.
The Right Way to Apply Bilingual Techniques to Children
The optimal time to start applying bilingualism to children is from the child's birth to the age of three, when the child's mind is still flexible and open. To raise a child into a bilingual, there are two approaches to the method that Father and Mother can do, namely:
- The second language method at home, the way Father and Mother use a second language at home, for example English. If outside the home the child only uses Indonesian, he can use English in the house, so he can become a bilingual.
- One parent's method is one language, the way Dad speaks to children in one language, for example Indonesian, while Mother speaks to children in other languages, for example English. Perform this method during the early years of a child's life.
Regardless of the method Father and Mother choose, the following tips can help.
- Use the tools to introduce a second language to children, such as through books, music, games, and films.
- Father or Mother can read story books in a second language, such as using English, French, Spanish, or other languages as part of your Little Lullaby's bedtime routine. By doing this activity repeatedly, children can learn to say a few words in the language and understand their meaning.
- Join the bilingual community. Mother can bring children to play with children from other bilingual families. If you need to leave the child, choose daycare or bilingual child care, or hire a babysitter who speaks a second language.
Some children who are raised in bilingual families need more time to start talking, compared to children from monolingual families. Parents need not worry because later children from bilingual families who are late in speaking will be able to speak at the same level as monolingual children. Even when he goes to school, this bilingual child will be able to speak both languages equally well.
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