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Early  anguagearly  anguage anguage


         E


                                  Education
                                  Education            even relatively small amounts of   While it’s never too late to start
                                                       exposure to a second language   learning a language, it helps
                                                       before the age of one make a   to start young. A recent study
                                                       difference in the development of   from the University of Oregon
                        Two-and-a-half year-old Mateo   those neural pathways.       shows that students who start     C O MM U NI T Y
                        is already on his way to being a                             learning in elementary school are
                        world citizen. He and his parents   How do these differently wired   70 percent more likely to reach
                        have been taking classes in    neural pathways affect children?   competency than those who
                        Mandarin Chinese since he was   Children who are exposed to   start in high school.
                        just a few months old, learning   language early recognize and
                        together. From the outside and to   produce sounds like a native   Excellent pronunciation and
                        Mateo, having fun is what it’s all   speaker. As children get older,   success in academics are great
                        about. He sings and dances and   however, this gets much more   benefi ts, but ultimately there’s
                        hugs the furry white cat that he   diffi cult to do.          an even bigger benefi t: the effect
                        asks for in Mandarin. But while   In addition, children who know   that knowing a second language
                        he’s playing, a lot is going on in his   more than one language have   has on a child’s approach to
                        brain.                                                       interacting with people from
                                                       shown they understand that
                        In the fi rst four years of life, a   things can have more than one   around the world. Children
                                                                                     who grow up embracing other
                        child’s brain is focused on language  name—that language is, in effect,   languages and cultures aren’t
                        acquisition—fi rst on sounds, then   symbolic. This understanding   intimidated by someone who
                        grammar, and then vocabulary.   leads to strong verbal and   speaks or acts differently.
                        The brain forms neural pathways   analytical skills. The cognitive   They have the confi dence and
                        in response to the language    benefi ts show up in academic   willingness to understand and
                        surrounding it. Amazing as it   tests. Children who have studied   appreciate other people and
                        sounds, the brain wires itself in   a foreign language score higher   cultures. They are compassionate
                        a particular way because of the   on testing in math and social   global citizens, and the world
                        language around the child, and   studies, and even on their SATs.
                                                                                     needs more of them.





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