Every person knows one language, which is the language that you learn during your childhood. In “My Spanish Standoff,” Kuntz writes, “my daughter is frustrated by the fact that I’m bilingual and have purposely declined to teach her to speak Spanish, my native tongue.” The information given as well as the information in “English Only, but Where” and “English-Only Classrooms,” has been brought to my attention that being bilingual has advantages. Language is very important in today’s multi-cultural society. Being bilingual leaves people with intellectual growth, greater appreciation to language/culture, and a better ear for listening.
There is a positive effect on intellectual growth such as thinking. There are two or more words for each idea and object. For example, the word eat can also be expressed in other words such as consume, feast, chow down, munch, etc. Another language may have fewer words or more to define that idea or object. In Cambodian, the word eat can be expressed in only three different ways; si, ngam, and charom.
Figuring out which words to use in a speech makes you to think which results in intellectual growth. According to “Benefits from Being Bilingual,” from www.buzzle.com, knowing “which language to use in a particular situation enhances and enriches a person’s mental development.” Switching from English to another language trains your brain to use it at the right moment.
Learning a second language gives you access and exposure to their language and culture. The article “Benefits from Being Bilingual,” from www.buzzle.com states that “knowledge of different languages offers a treasure of traditional and contemporary sayings, idioms, history, and folk stories, music, literature and poetry in different cultures.
” It broadens your view to that culture because it is different from Americans. My boyfriend is Laotian and I’ve grown accustomed to their culture through dinners. Laotian culture uses a platform that sits on the floor known as ka toke as a table where meals are enjoyed. I was able to learn their language while enjoying dinner. At first, I thought that it was awkward to not sit at a dining table but experiencing firsthand how they normally eat built my appreciation and respect towards their culture. It helps you get an understanding of different ideas and traditions.
Listening skills can be trained and developed. It happens through speech practice and straining to hear what is spoken to you. When a person speaks to you in another language, you are focused on the speech so that the message will come across. Overtime, your ear for listening will be trained to pick up words more efficiently.
I have studied Spanish for seven years (6-12th grade).The Spanish soap opera is full of drama and can get very interesting. Paying extra attention to what they’re saying allowed me to understand the story. I used to have difficulty understanding the Spanish soap opera but with practice, my listening skills developed and I began to pick up the language almost naturally. Being bilingual has so many advantages, especially in today’s multi-cultural society. It leaves people with intellectual growth, greater appreciation to language/culture, and a better ear for listening.
