It's been shown that students that learn multiple languages are more comfortable travelling abroad, because from a young age, they have had to become comfortable going outside of their comfort zone and delving into the unknown. This is very much in contrast to people from a monolingual society.
For children that are not native speakers, but that study in an English-French immersion program, they are capable of mastering both languages at once, all the while attaining high marks, because they are always surrounded by the target language. This allows immigrant children the best opportunities possible.
It's important for kids to study in a bilingual environment, as it can help them develop an awareness that bilingualism is both a cultural and an economic asset. I think it's important for our youth to understand that Canada is a multi-faceted country with a plethora of cultures, and by learning additional languages, children can begin to understand what Canada really is.
I think it's important for my kids to go to a French-immersion school. Learning additional languages has been shown to help in the development of interpersonal and social skills, as well as help improve self-esteem and self-confidence.
I totally read somewhere that 2nd language learning is proven to help with overall literacy skills in children. Here's to hoping that it's true. So far my kids are enjoying themselves in their French-immersion program, so I'm not too worried.
I'm really pro-bilingual education for my kids. I think it will give them a lot of opportunities that I didn't have when I was growing up. As a parent, I want what is best for my kids, so I think sending them to a French-immersion school is essential.
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