I found this article interesting because of its connection to what I have previously learned in my psychology class. In high school, I took AP Psychology and learned a lot about cognitive development and the mental impact of learning languages. Those who learn two or more languages have a larger and more developed Broca's and Wernicke's area - the two areas that deal with speech and language development. The article emphasizes the importance of linguistics in cognitive development. It mentions the connection of being able to switch languages and monitor the environment, making bilinguals more advanced in that area. Also, it emphasizes the age factor in language development. Infants have a keen sense of communication and can pick up languages easier than those who are older.
For the past decade, it seems as though globalization and the importance of being bilingual has been linked and emphasized. There are many cognitive, economic, and political reasons why being bilingual (or, multilingual) is beneficial. The world we live in in constantly developing; not to mention that we are in constant communication with people across the world. We live in a technological era where communication is vital and it is becoming easier to contact someone who may be thousands of miles away. Schools in America are increasing emphasis on learning a second or even third language. It seemed as though Americans didn't have a well-rounded knowledge of other cultures and languages. American schools are even starting to include language requirements as early as sixth or seventh grade.
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