Brilio.net - Children become the generation of the nation, who since in the womb parents always want the best for their beloved child. Because the quality of a child also depends on the education in the family environment. How could it not be, the family is the first place for a child to know about the world.
Generally, the first thing parents teach is to speak. Knowing the mother tongue makes it easier for the little one to communicate. Adapting from Antaranews, according to Professor of the Department of Child Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Prof. DR. Dr. Rini Sekartini Sp.A(K) children who are taught more than one language can be more sensitive in choosing the use of words when delivering explanations.
In addition, according to the Head of the Coordination Unit for Growth and Development and Social Pediatrics of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, children who master more than one language are usually more flexible and creative and have better analytical skills. Thus, it is important to teach children various languages. However, there are several implications if parents teach children more than one language.
Without waiting any longer, let's take a look at the complete review of the advantages and disadvantages of teaching children more than one language from an early age, which brilio.net has adapted from various sources, Friday (23/8).
The advantages and disadvantages of teaching children more than one language from an early age.
photo: freepik.com
Teaching children more than one language from an early age has been a topic that has been widely discussed by linguists, psychologists, and educators. In general, this approach offers many benefits but also brings some challenges that need to be faced. Well, to understand more deeply, here are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching children more than one language from an early age, including:
- ExcessResearch shows that children who are raised in a bilingual or multilingual environment tend to have better cognitive abilities.
Referring to a study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, children who speak more than one language show higher abilities in multitasking, problem solving, and creative thinking.
This is because your little one's brain is constantly adapting to managing two or more language systems, which increases mental flexibility and analytical thinking skills.
Children who master more than one language from an early age can adapt more easily in various socio-cultural contexts. Adapting from research conducted by the University of Chicago found that bilingual children have higher social empathy because they can more easily understand other people's perspectives.
Additionally, the ability to speak multiple languages allows children to connect with diverse cultures, enriching their understanding of the world while opening up opportunities to interact with diverse communities.
Mastering multiple languages provides a competitive advantage in the global job market. A report by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages states that bilingual individuals are more in demand in fields such as international business, diplomacy, education, and technology. Mastery of a foreign language is also often associated with higher salaries and wider opportunities to work abroad or in multinational companies.
- Lack:One concern that is often expressed by parents is the potential for language delays in children who are learning more than one language. In the early stages, children who are learning two or more languages may show a slower pace of language development than children who are learning only one language.
This is also supported by research published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, some bilingual children may experience temporary delays in producing words or sentences compared to children who only learn one language. However, it is important to note that these delays are usually temporary and do not indicate a permanent language development disorder.
Children need sufficient exposure to master the language they are learning. A common challenge is the difficulty in providing consistent exposure to both languages.
For example, if one language is only used at home and another language is used at school, the child may have difficulty maintaining both languages well.
A study by the Bilingual Research Journal found that without balanced exposure, one language can become dominant, while the ability of the other language diminishes over time.
Learning more than one language can add cognitive load to a child, especially if they are also learning new concepts at school.
Research published by the Harvard Graduate School of Education suggests that children learning multiple languages may experience temporary confusion when they have to distinguish between grammar rules or vocabulary from different languages. This can be frustrating for children, especially if their environment does not support the use of both languages well.
(brl/wen)
