What if learning a second language could change more than the way your child communicates?

By Noldi Vives

We often associate a student’s education with how they think about problems, understand other people, and make sense of the world around them. Families searching for the best bilingual schools care about this question. It’s not just about language, vocabulary, and fluency, though those are all important in a high-quality bilingual program. Rather, a student needs many ways to learn, to connect with others, and to express themselves, and they especially need these tools when they are young and still developing.

Learning a second language in kindergarten through grade 8 can have many far-reaching effects on a student’s approach to life and how they view others and the world in general. Immersion Spanish programs, like the one at EBI, see language as part of the learning experience itself. It is not an add-on; it is part of the learning experience every day. 

So, why is bilingual education so important?

Bilingual education aims at acquiring academic content and using languages at the same time. These two processes happen simultaneously. In a Spanish immersion program, students acquire Spanish through meaningful experiences in the classroom as opposed to learning about a subject solely through academic study.

To differentiate between the two terms ‘acquiring’ and 'learning,' it is essential to make clear how school systems are working with languages. Children learn lots of grammar and vocabulary when they are using Spanish to learn, read books, play games, sing songs, or participate in cultural celebrations. This is context-specific language. Many methods use the IB (International Baccalaureate) or CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) for learning content in a foreign language.

Research into bilingual education may also encounter references to the Montessori language learning approach. Children using their hands to learn language, repetition, working independently, and learning at their own pace are some of the main features of this educational approach. While Montessori is an educational approach in itself and is quite different from the International Baccalaureate (IB) approach, EBI’s IB approach offers language learning through children’s meaningful experiences, through their investigations, and through all their interactions and communications as they connect and develop ideas and explore very different perspectives.

Research has also suggested that bilingual education leads to stronger cognitive skills, more attention to detail, and better memory and cognitive flexibility or plasticity. Although outcomes can vary from student to student, moving between languages provides kids the opportunity to learn how to adapt to different scenarios. 

Cross-linguistic academic learning is an element that any bilingual education method considers when designing learning experiences. What is it? Well, this is simply the use of previous knowledge in the home language, applied as a tool for scaffolding learning in another language and used before acquiring knowledge in the second language. 

Of course, there are long-term benefits to bilingual education. Bilingualism can create additional opportunities in higher education, future career opportunities, and access to a wider variety of knowledge. 

So we have to ask ourselves an important question: Are all bilingual schools the same? The answer is no. The system and program of a bilingual school can be of very different quality. K-8 is a very sensitive period for student development. During the early school years, children are trying to get a good picture of who they are and where they want to go. Children are also learning how to be with others, how to make friends, and how children learn best. A good bilingual education program can support students in growing into confident adults, finding their place in the community, and becoming participatory members of society.

Bilingual education can also help children to develop a deeper appreciation of different cultures, languages, and identities. For multilingual families, this can strengthen connections with heritage and their countries. For English-dominant families, it can open new doors and experiences, and it can help them discover new ways to communicate. 

But there is something we have to keep in mind. Not all bilingual schools are designed the same way. So, when choosing a school for your student, look beyond a promise of fluency and grammar. Find a school that offers immersive experiences, cultural events, and connections with people who have strong connections to the culture of the language you want your student to acquire. 

One of the most frequent questions from parents of EBI students is, "How can I help my child learn to speak Spanish at home when we speak English at home?” The answer is easy: exposure, encouragement, and occasions to use Spanish.

At EBI, Spanish immersion extends beyond the language classroom and encompasses the study of many different materials in order to read, write, and discuss in Spanish. Students also participate in many of the school’s cultural events, such as celebrating Día de Muertos or participating in the school’s Café Literario.

Of course, there are also many opportunities for language learning throughout the school day, with 80% of our staff being Spanish speakers, including mostly native speakers.

You can incorporate Spanish language and literature into a child’s life by reading Spanish books, listening to Spanish music, and discussing daily events at school. Give children positive reinforcement even though you do not expect perfect grammar and/or spelling.

At EBI, we support students in a number of ways: questioning, exploring, communicating, and thinking in different ways in order to be academically successful and to be international citizens who use Spanish and other languages to understand the world better and to be able to communicate with people from around the world.