The UCSD Guardian – Marcus Thuillier
“…multilingualism is a proven asset in modern America and the lack of support for multilingualism is appalling…The U.S. does not have a national requirement for students to learn a foreign language in school…one might ask: What is the point? Learning a second languages has proven to have health benefits, like reducing the chances of onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia…The 2004 study confirming this was conducted by psychologists Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin-Rhee, and proved that multilinguals had “higher levels of cognitive brain function, and were more adept at solving problems, planning, and other ‘mentally demanding tasks.” If the education system in place is encouraging students to only pick up English and have no interest in their cultural and linguistic heritage, then the U.S. should be ashamed to be wasting such a beautiful thing.”(more)