In the past, educators and researchers saw a second language as a hindrance to a child's academic and intellectual development. There are evidences for interference caused in bilingual brains; in a bilingual's brain, both language systems are active even when he is using only one language, thus one system interferes with the other. However, this so-called interference actually benefits the bilingual's brain. It provides the brain with an internal conflict to solve, giving the mind a work out to strengthen its capacities. There are many other evidences that support that knowing two languages benefits one's mental capacity tremendously.
Speaking from my experiences, I would like to say that I completely agree that being bilingual has helped me academically and intellectually. It is hard to come up with a measure or a standard for an improvement in intellectual capacity but I truly feel that I've become smarter. I started seriously learning English in 6th grade when my family moved to the United States. It was a tough journey but every step of the way, I could feel myself becoming more insightful, analytical, and descriptive in the language I use. There are phrases and descriptive words that exist in one language but not in the other. To me, it makes perfect sense that someone who can use multiple languages tends to be more perceptive and creative than one who does not because of the sheer exposure to unique phrases and or words that describe a unique sensation. One important thing to note is I don't think its valid to say that bilinguals are smarter than monolinguals; I believe that being a bilingual and going through the process of becoming bilingual makes you a smarter person than you would have been if you avoided the challenge and stayed monolingual. I don't think an intellectual comparison between a bilingual and monolingual is a valid thing.
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