The Benefits of Language Education 语言学习的益处

Language education in international schools aims to expand a child’s world vision and experience. From the viewpoint of holistic education, language learning must break through from being just a tool to embracing the fact that 21st century is a generation of dual-/multi- language learning.  The benefit of having a second, third or more language greatly exceeds simple communication-- it actually provides deeper influences and greater effects listed here:

从IB全人教育的观点来看，语言的学习，必须突破单一语言，二十一世纪是多语学习的时代，国际学校的语言教育旨在透过语言，拓展、丰富孩子的世界视野及经验，它的益处大大超过能用语言沟通，更远远深刻于升学、考试、求职。学习语言不止是习得基本的语言沟通技能，连带还会提升各样的学习认知，并奠定重要的特质，具有更深层次的影响。

01

Language learning and brain development

语言学习和脑部发展

Regardless of language operations, the human brain itself is a highly complex organ. Studies indicate that the brains of multi-lingual language learners are more flexible and adaptable. Their brains show increased gray matter (also called Cortex)  in the dorsolateral prefrontal lobe, which is the brain’s ‘executive function’ block, allowing learners to improve their concentration, be able to process information with different attributes with higher efficiency, be more agile and cognitive than monolingual users, and improve problem-solving skills.

先不论语言操作，人的大脑本身就是一个高度复杂的器官。研究指出多语学习者脑部的灵活性和适应性较佳，他们的大脑显示背外侧前额叶中的灰质 (又名“大脑皮质”）会增加，那是脑部负责“执行功能”的区块，允许学习者提升专注度，能以较高效率处理不同属性的资讯，心思敏捷度以及认知较单语使用者灵活，提高解决问题的能力。

02

Understanding, empathy & communication skills

理解力、同理心和沟通能力

In addition, there are studies finding that children who are multilingual have more comprehensive understanding, empathy, and communication skills. The reason is that children who are multi-lingual interpret the language and the viewpoints in the languages constantly. They consider the meaning and perspectives of people, and events. This leads the multi-lingual children to understand better, become more empathetic and interactive in their communication. Long-term, they become more rational with better interpersonal skills.

除此之外，还有研究发现拥有多项语言能力的孩童具备更全面的理解能力，且具有更强的同理心和沟通能力。原因在于多语孩童必须在运用语言表达的过程中需要持续有意识地解读语言和语言中的观点，对人、事、物，产生思考进而同理，形成互动交流，良性的循环，因此这也促使多语学习者能够具有更加理智的思维，也具备较优异的人际交往技巧。

03

The ability to interpret the world and construct reality

解读世界、建构现实的能力

The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said: "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Language is what encourages our brains to think, construct our thoughts and make complex communication possible. Take Finnish as an example. Finnish has more than 40 snow-related descriptors because it is a snowy country. In Finland, they describe the type of snow, the texture of snow, the feeling of snow... and other details. Yet this does not occur in Arabic. Lacking vocabulary related to snow limits Arabic speakers in further understanding snow. The same situation can be referred to any other topic or subject, such as technology, science, mathematics, art, and even language itself. This proves that language, knowledge of the world and culture are inextricably linked. In other words, the more a person’s language is developed, the more he or she can understand the world or master various disciplines.

哲学家路德维格·维特根斯坦曾说：“我在语言方面的局限性意味着我在这个世界的局限性。” 这说明：语言为促使我们的大脑思考，构筑我们的思想，并使复杂的交流成为可能。以芬兰语为例，芬兰语因为它是一个多雪的国家，有40多个与雪有关的描述词，在芬兰，他们描述雪的类型，雪的质地，雪的感觉...等细节，而阿拉伯语则无。阿拉伯语没有太多关于雪的单词，致使他们对雪地的理解有限。现在，让我们想象一下由芬兰人和阿拉伯人学习或撰写的有关降雪的文章，可以肯定的是，唯拥有丰富雪地相关语汇者可以深入地探索、描绘或发现。相同的状况可以引用至任何其他主题，例如技术，科学，数学，艺术，甚至是语言本身，因此可以这样说 --语言与文化和对世界的认知有着千丝万缕的联系”。一个人的语言越发达，他们对世界或各学科的了解和掌握就越多。

04

Self-identity, cultural connection

构建自我认同和文化连接

A number of studies have confirmed that multi-lingual language learners are more self-confident, open-minded and have more cultural confidence. This is mainly because learning languages is a process of self-discovery and developing identification. Children and young people interact with the language, people and cultures from the target language. While these language users reveal and use the language, they need to plan genuinely what the expression means. Therefore, a series of processes to examine ourselves, and position ourselves take place. This leads to generating self-identity internally and creating cultural connections.

多项研究证实多语学习者拥有更开明的思想，文化信心也更佳，这主要源于学习语言也是一种自我探知、认同与定位的过程。会说多种语言的孩童和年轻人以语言为工具，能用轻松的态度自如地与来自全球不同背景的人打交道。在学习、互动交流的过程中，因为在了解世界前，学习者需要提前了解、审视自我，为自身的文化做出定位，并产生认同，因而产生文化连接。

05

Academic and work benefits

学习与工作效益

Knowing more than one language has become one of the most important skills in academic development and the job market of the 21st century. Like information technology in the 20th century, languages have become a crucial capability for most students to enter universities and forward their careers. Take the United States as an example, the country has more Spanish speakers than Spain. China is the country with the most learners of the English language. The majority of national curriculums include a second language, usually English. Language learning becomes important for anyone to further their academic pursuit.

语言成为21世紀在求学、就业竞争市场上并列最重要的能力之一，就像20世紀的电脑科技一样，语言变成多数入学、工作的基本要求。以美国为例，该国西班牙文使用者已经比西班牙本土还多，中国也是最多英语学习者的国家。绝大国家课程大纲都包含二语的学习，语言习得的成绩成为升学的重要因素。

Nevertheless, being multi-lingual makes business activities, transactions, and negotiations proceed smoothly. In response to the influences of globalization, efficient multi-lingual communication brings the increment of productivity and creates new employment opportunities. The difference becomes significant after years. Those who are multi-lingual ability, benefit more from learning and work relative to their peers.

拥有多语能力，可以使商业活动、交易、谈判顺利进行，因应国际化的影响，高效率多语沟通将会提升生产力，开创新的就业机会，带来具体的财务效益。能拥有多语能力者，其学习、工作效益相对超越其他同侪。

Looking to the Future

                       展 望 未 来

Language learning is not just for acquiring basic language communication skills. It has a profound impact on learners in promoting brain development, enhancing cognitive and communication skills across all subjects, laying important personality traits such as empathy, cultural intelligence, self-awareness, building an capacity for critical thinking, and most importantly, interpreting and constructing the world around each and every one of us. It becomes a part of a learning and working competitiveness indicator and the prerequisite of a global citizen in the 21st century.

多语学习，除了习得基本的语言沟通技能，还为学习者带来深层的影响--除了能促进脑部发展、增强沟通能力、奠定重要人格特特如：同理心、灵活性和文化智商，还能加强自我认知、连接文化，建立批判思考的能力，解读及建构世界的能力，并拥有更多学习、工作竞争力。这是一种智能发展、人格塑造、及理性批判思考养成的过程，助力他们成为二十一世纪的全球公民。

Language Education

It is now a new responsibility for parents to choose a credible school that values, and is expert at, language education. I hope that this article will help all us clarify the benefits of language education in our era, understanding the need for language learning. May the information give you more confidence and clarity when planning your children’s language education.

成为全球公民，打造成功、国际化的未来是每一位父母对孩子的希冀。帮助孩子透过语言学习，选择一所具有宏观、重视语言教育、知道如何办好多语教育的学校是势在必行的，希望今天的分享能够简单为您厘清为什么要学好语言、学好多语言的效益是什么，进而有助让您在帮助孩子语言学习时有更多的信心与期待。

Author 

本文作者

Learn More

更多相关资讯

Excellence Starts With Attitude

卓越始于态度

Scan the QR Code

& Follow Us

扫码关注我们

Register for

Our Event Now

即刻报名校园活动

Admissions

WeChat

官方招生微信

-------------------

CONTACT US 联系我们

86 020 3788 3996

[e-mail]

www.isagzsc.com