(1) Research proves that acquiring a second language at a young age does not interfere with cognitive development. (2) As members of our community gather to vote on whether to support the funding of a new bilingual school in our town, I urge you to take the following into consideration.
(3) Studies conducted at the Cornell Language Acquisition Lab (CLAL) show that children who learn a second language are more likely to succeed in school settings than children who know only one language. (4) They tend to be able to pay attention for longer periods of time, and that ability, which is key, will help them succeed academically. (5) This is the kind of head start we need to give the young children in our community.
(6) There are several misconceptions about the effects of learning a second language. (7) In the past, concerns have arisen that teaching children two languages confuses them as they begin to grapple with language acquisition. (8) Fears that these children develop a cognitive deficit or a language delay due to simultaneous language acquisition have also come up. (9) However, none of these fears is founded.
(10) The researchers at CLAL have been exploring bilingual acquisition in young children for over three decades. (11) The results of their research, as well as that of other similar international studies, show that children are indeed capable of learning more than one language. (12) In addition, they will do so naturally if they are immersed in the language. (13) The younger their age, the more likely they are to acquire language proficiency similar to that of a native speaker. (14) Therefore, the earlier they are exposed to a second language, the better.
(15) There is so much to gain from providing our community with a bilingual school. (16) Theseyoung children would begin their life with the advantage of knowing another language. (17) They would also be provided by attending a bilingual school with a cognitive foundation that could greatly impact their chances of academic success.
(18) They are our future. (19) Let’s invest in them and dedicate funds to this important opportunity. (20) Please support the proposal to build a bilingual school in our town.