Kasandra Herrera, 6, reads a book in Spanish in Bianca Alvarez's dual language first grade classroom at Northwest Elementary School in Dodge City, Kan. Feb. 22, 2005. The Dodge City district has the highest bilingual enrollment in the state seeing a dramatic increase in the town's Hispanic population in the past ten years. Funding for bilingual related programs is set to increase next year in both House and Senate school finance proposals as lawmakers strive to meet a Supreme Court deadline of April 12 to increase school funding. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) ((AP Photo/Charlie Riedel))
In our fast-paced world, where humankind around the globe is in closer contact than ever before, it has become clear to educators and parents that we must prepare new generations of children to be able to communicate and compete in the global village.
Bilingualism is one positive step in that regard. Knowledge of a second or third language helps individuals adapt to the diversity and plurality of culture around the world. Multi-lingualists are more likely to be understanding of other cultures’ customs, ways of speaking, different accents, eating habits and even body language as opposed to their monolingual peers. They seldom use language as a weapon against others.
Teachers and parents alike recognize that teaching children to be bilingual is an act of solidarity. So together, let us expose our children to another language and prepare them for survival in the multi-lingual, multicultural world in which they will come of age.
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