Learning Journal #9 SDLC 105

[Jenny Faust]

After reading the two articles: "Are Bilinguals Really Smarter?" and "Why Bilinguals are Smarter," I definitely see how knowing two languages can work your brain more. Especially in the first few years when I was learning English, I was forced to first think of what I wanted to say in Korean and then translate it into English, which I can see how it would work your brain more on a very constant basis. However, I'm not fully convinced that just because you are bilingual, you are "smarter" where it will significantly benefit you in society. Maybe you'd be able to solve puzzles faster, but I haven't been able to see how it really benefits in society. However, I definitely realize that being bilingual can help you in society in the way that it is another skill you can bring into the workforce and enhances your resume. I did think it was interesting that one of the articles mentioned how people used to believe that teaching a child a new language can delay their development because it can confuse them. This is something that has definitely never crossed my mind, and it's interesting to see how people's opinions on being bilingual have changed over the years.