Singapore has invested heavily in the development of its education standards. Today, the country boasts one of the best education systems in the world. Language has emerged as an integral part of these advances in education. Bilingual education features prominently in the country’s education system. Top international schools now use multiple languages in their programmes.
Preschool education in Singapore now teaches kids in their native language and a second foreign language. This entails the incorporation of the language into the actual teaching process. Teaching academic content in several languages from the early stages of developments has revealed immense benefits for the learners. There are many Benefits of learning a second language.
This post explores some of these benefits in detail.
Improved Cognitive Development
Research now shows that bilingual education strengthens the executive function of the brain. When class instruction is in more than one language, there’s a notable improvement in skills for functions such as working memory and switching attention.
Children learning in a bilingual programme perform better at multitasking, decision making and problem-solving. Through interaction with multiple languages, learners develop linguistic awareness and a better understanding of their native language. This, in turn, leads to a better interpretation of the world around them.
More Choices in Future
When you introduce your child to different languages at an early stage, you open more doors for their career choices. The best preschool in Singapore uses the bilingual approach with an eye on the future of the child.
In such a school, there’s an immersive environment where the child gets an opportunity to develop their language skills. With two languages, one can choose where to study or to work across the world.
Cultural Awareness
Singapore is increasingly becoming a diverse society with more foreigners settling here. By teaching kids a different language, you promote cultural awareness.
Language is an integral part of culture and to understand a different language, a child will also start appreciating the new culture. From an early age, the child understands there are other different people, languages and traditions across the world. This prepares the child to embrace new ideas and develop tolerance for other cultures.
A child who speaks in two languages develops empathy early in life. They are keen to know what language the other person uses and switches to the same. This is a big step in the development of their social and emotional skills.
Better Academic Performance
Research now shows that a bilingual student’s brain function is challenged to perform better in finding meaning and communication. One of the earliest studies in bilingual education revealed better academic performance among bilingual students than their monolingual programmes.
Broadening Career Options
In the globalised world content, fluency in multiple languages is a great asset. When children are introduced to different languages at early stages in preschool, they build a secret weapon to be used in the future.
Most international companies today look for bilingual employees. Such employees can handle international clients. Bilingual job candidates stand out and have an advantage over other potential employees.
More Adaptability
Bilingual education gives a child more than competence in two languages. By introducing them to a new culture, bilingual programmes also give the child a broader outlook on life. It helps the learner easily adapt to life and understand other races and nationalities.
Health Benefits
For a long time, research on bilingual education has sought to reveal suspected health benefits. There’s an increasing body of evidence showing that people who speak more than one language have a lower risk of dementia. Other health benefits noted in bilingual people include resistance to Parkinson’s disease in later life and mental health benefits.
Learning Languages is Fun
Teachers in preschool Singapore programmes at the best schools are highly trained and competent in different languages. They develop fun activities to help their students enjoy learning a new language.
In the classroom setting, learning a new language is fun and these classes are always popular with students. Children will show off their new language skills to their families and friends and they take every opportunity to practice.
Thus, bilingual education adds some fun to the learning process. Children always look forward to using their newly learned language.
Preparation to Learn New Things
When children attend bilingual preschool education in Singapore, they have to learn a new language and practice hard. There’s a lot of emphasis from teachers on the new language. Learning a new language is tough and it prepares the kids to learn more new stuff in the school setting.
Final Thoughts
Bilingual education is more important than ever in Singapore’s rapidly changing society. These programmes help with the cognitive development of a child and also prepare them for a new world. At a bilingual preschool, a child learns how to live with others and improves cognitive skills. Ultimately, learning another language improves their future career opportunities.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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