15 questions ( last question )

Affirming biliteracy. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2016, from http://leap.tki.org.nz

/Affirming-biliteracy

 Is bilingualism an advantage? (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2016, from http://leap.tki.

org.nz/Is-bilingualism-an-advantage

 Is bilingualism a problem? (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2016, from http://leap.tki.org

.nz/Is-bilingualism-a-problem

 

What kind of effect does being a bilingual have??? 

 

There is sometimes an opinion that bilingualism is a disadvantage in learning.

Since 1960, these studies have been widely discredited.

After 1960, the new theory of brain appeared and explained that, in the brain, the languages are in the same place of the brain, so there are no obstacles even if we have many languages in brain. That is, Bilingualism and multilingualism are possible because people have the capacity to easily store two or more languages. People can also function in two or more languages with relative ease.

more than 150 major research studies now broadly conclude that when children continue to develop their abilities in two or more languages throughout their primary school years, they gain a deeper understanding of language and how to use it effectively.

Let me give you examples of effectiveness of being bilingual

1. Cognitive flexibility

bilingual people are often superior to their monolingual counterparts in both divergent and convergent thinking tests.

 

2. Metalinguistic awareness

Metalinguistic awareness is the ability to analyse language, language forms, how they work and how they are incorporated into the broader language system.

3. Communicative sensitivity

Communicative sensitivity relates to participants’ level of awareness about what is going on in any particular language interaction.

4. Field independence

Field independence is the visual ability to see an overall pattern as well as its component parts. As children grow to maturity, they become more field independent. Bilingual students tend to be more field independent at a younger age.

Cf,

Other advantages of bilingualism

①     Bilingual opens up new literatures, traditions, and ideas to bilingual students.

②      Being bilingual, and being exposed to two languages and cultures, often fosters greater tolerance for other cultural groups.

③     Knowing two languages makes it easier to learn other language

④     Knowing two languages provides bilingual people with additional skills in the employment market

⑤     When bilingual can read and write also, it is known that they would surpass their peers in education.

Opinion

         As this article showed to us, there are a lot of merits to be a bilingual.However, to make the circumstance where every people are bilingual or more are really difficult one.
 

        For now, people who are bilingual are the people whose father or mother are foreign people or whose parents have a good job and who lived abroad ever in their life. In japan, it is causing disparity among young generation. I think those trends are malevolent one since children who are raised up in japan exposed to the situation where they cannot do nothing.( not having an opportunity to be a bilingual as natual process ) 

    
        To solve those problems, those people who have not the opportunity, as I listed above, should study other language to success in their life. So, if English become one of the official language in japan, I think it would give an impartiality to those children who are raised up in japan.