A study showed that, since the age of two years of a child can be taught a foreign language. In fact, children are able to speak in two languages ​​have advantages in brain development that has an executive function, such as planning, organizing, or focus attention on important details.

Children who suffer from attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and autism typically have a disadvantage in terms of executive function.

In a study of 63 children under five are known, children are taught two languages ​​from the age of two years has advantages in terms of executive function. However, in general, no differences in cognitive function or intelligence and mastery of syllables.

Although you are eager to teach a second language to the child, the child should have mastered their mother tongue first. The stronger the mother of a child’s mastery of language, the greater the opportunity for him to fluent in a foreign language.

Approach in teaching a second language to children should also use complete sentences. For example, instead of saying, “Son, let’s read the book the story is,” better to say, “Honey, let’s read together this story book”. For that, prior to teaching a foreign language, parents should ensure their own mastery of foreign languages ​​is good.

To make things worse, this divide has become a part of daily life. Many public and government organizations are supposed to be bilingual, but many of the francophones are forced to learn English if they are to stay, and not the other way around. A lack of bilingualism translates into lost business, unwieldy travel, and many of the issues our country faces.

Why not try to bridge the gap, and beam with pride at having your child be über-Canadian by having them learning French? Their minds are ripe for learning other languages, and they’ll be thanking you for the rest of their lives!

Kids: French Immersion

One of the best ways to learn a language is to start early. We all learned our native tongue when we’re small, and a good way to make your kid bilingue is to sign your child up for French Immersion.

Many, if not all, subjects will be taught en français, and your child will be encouraged to listen and speak in French from the beginning. This has proven to be much more effective than core French classes nationwide, which teach the language the old-fashioned way – learning grammar rules and vocab. Best of all, immersion is usually free!

Teens/Young Adults: Explore/YMCA

When your child has become a young adult, it’s time to send them off to a truly immersive expérience. These two programs are light on the wallet, and will give your youth an unforgettable experience.

Explore is a government-subsidized program, where your young man/woman can journey for five weeks to a francophone destination, while taking a French course! With an application free of $200 that’s paid only if he/she is accepted, he/she will be boarding on a campus or with a homestay family, and see Canada in a whole new light.

The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange will have your 16/17-year-old travel somewhere else in Canada that speaks French. He/she will also stay with a homestay family, and get a chance to explore and earn money in a job that will look fantastic on their résumé!

Other Opportunities

If your teenager is interested in working with the federal government, and is bilingual, consider signing him/her to be a page in the House of Commons. Young adults can sign up to be a parliamentary intern.

Your nearest Alliance française and French/multicultural community centre also probably holds French classes. And of course, there is a wealth of learning opportunities online, from software to websites, and at the university level.

Bonne chance! Good luck!

In the short time using the site I’ve learned almost a hundred words of Spanish and can now identify 33 varities of tropical fish. It’s surprising how easy and fun it is to learn with Memrise. Completing tests reward you with points, determining your place on the sites leaderboard. Many users are very competitive when it comes to securing a high spot.

So, if you want to learn and have fun, or need to learn a new language for work or travel give Memrise a shot here. It’s completely free and available to anyone. 

            Regional or sub-regional cooperation and cohesion are designed to make the whole world one united and happy family, especially at the end of the cold war between the East and the West.

            In the cold war era, regional groupings substantially focused on forging hegemonies along ideologies or political philosophies. In other words, regional cohesion was not seriously directed towards global integration. Emphasis was on regional or sub-regional autonomy.

Even then, such autonomy was weakened by geographical, linguistic and other barriers. For instance, the West African Frontier Force and the West African Airlines established for administrative convienice in the colonial period, fizzled out as a result of such barriers.

            A new impetus was given to sub-regional integration in this part of the world in 1975 with the formation of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. The organization has endorsed various integrative treaties.

Examples includes the protocol on free movement of ECOWAS citizens within number-countries and the setting up of social, economic and security structures to unite the people. An ECOWAS currency is being planned along this line.

            The integrative arrangement went a step further in 1987, when the ECOWAS urged each member-country to establish a unity-school within the territory of another member-state. This decision coincides with long standing demand by fifteen thousand Nigerians in Togo for a bilingual school that will be relevant to all nationals within the sub-region. The Federal Government implanted the ECOWAS decision with the

laying of the foundation-stone of the Nigeria International School in Lome, Togo, by the foreign Affairs Minister.  Retired major –General Ike Nwachukwu. By this step, Nigeria has become the first ECOWAS state to establish such unity school. The project is estimated to cost forty-two million naira.

No doubt, Nigeria has again demonstrated her absolute belief in ECOWAS socio-economic and cultural integration. This is apparently borne out of the conviction that integration should be stepped up at sub-regional and regional levels. It is Nigeria’s wish that Africans must not only be free, but also united as a people with one destiny.

            As envisaged by ECOWAS, International Schools are intended to remove the cultural and linguistic barriers existing among member-states. Other member-countries should therefore emulate Nigeria by setting up their own ECOWAS unity schools without further delay

            It was truly a sunny day last Saturday after a torrential downpour which lasted till Friday evening. People were apprehensive and actually thought the rains will make Saturday’s convocation impossible. In spite of the rains, all hands were on deck, as workers and vehicles hurried round to sand-fill the flooded campus including the only road leading to the University which was partially submerged in floods.

One can then appreciate the joy of the President who saw the sunshine on the day of the convocation as a special day of blessings for the departing students. True to its mission of building bridges across political, linguistic and cultural divides the convocation ceremonies on Saturday the 16th of July 2011 opened with first, the national anthem of the United States of America, that of Nigeria and then finally, the Republic of Benin national anthem. This is symbolic as the admission of students into the university is opened to all nationalities without discrimination. In majority, are students from Nigeria who run in thousands in a school where the student-population stands at over Six thousand

            A university like Houdegbe North American University Cotonou is, at this time relevant as a uniting factor for economic co-operation and growth, not only in the West African sub-region, but also in the entire African continent. The successful unification of the African region is hinged on the exchange of socio-economic, cultural and educational actions. These are the aspirations of the first fully bilingual University in West Africa, the Houdegbe North American University, Cotonou. Apart from the pursuance of knowledge and making the university a centre of academic excellence, the Houdegbe North America University also recognizes and awards HONORIS CAUSA to honor men and women who have made indelible marks in the socio-economic, political and cultural development cutting across all countries, especially the West African sub-region and the African continent.

This is the state of affairs, and it was all joyful celebrations on that bright sunshine Saturday the 16th of July when the University graduated students from the School of Business Administration, Departments of Economics, Computer and Mathematics, Schools of International Relations and political Science. Others are the faculty  of Law, the faculty of Languages and the Institute of Translators, the School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy and Allied Medical profession.

In a well articulated and moving speech delivered by the Chancellor-President of the University, Professor Ocatve Houdegbe, who spoke both in the French and the English languages, urged all none-French- speaking students to be masters of the French language for the four years they will be staying  in the university. To achieve this end, he charged all the French lecturers of the university to do all things possible in order that the feat would be achieved, if the university has to assume its proper position as the only bilingual university in the West African sub-region. The colourful occasion which took place in a partially open space, witness thousands of guests from all over the World, especially the West African sub-region, spilling over to the extra-large canopies set besides the main open venue.

The most touching aspect of his speech was when the Chancellor urged the students to be virtuous, fusing moral disciple with intellectuality. Like Socrates and Plato had taught their students, wisdom and intellectuality alone cannot make a man without virtue and moral discipline. To them, the man with wisdom (the philosopher) and virtue should rule without being corrupt.

Moral discipline means so much to Houdegbe North American University as about sixteen students suspected to be cultists and other students caught in various criminal activities including rape, were rusticated recently from the University. The graduating students, according to the Chancellor, are going into the world, and in doing so, they have to be men and women of great integrity and virtue, urging them to uphold the good name of the University. He revealed that the University has working relationships with other Universities in he USA and Europe, especially  Hampshire University where students from Houdegbe North American University can continue with higher degrees, if they so wish. This was received amidst great cheers and ovation by the graduating students who were all decked with multicolor various academic gowns. So were their lecturers and other officials dressed.

True to the African way of life, the celebrations were unlimited. Parents, friends, and well-wishers have come from far and near to watch their children graduating, which to many people, is a remarkable achievement in their children’s lives. The parents and friends in their twenties and fifties were seen under various trees and corners with coolers of food and drinks in great feast, eating, drinking and merrying. The fact that their children are graduating after four years of great toiling, building up academic laurels is enough to celebrate.

Traditional music and trumpets rented the air while in various groups; dancers were in a world of their own. They are the graduates on who perpetual light of God will shine all through their lives.

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Pat Asakome, a Broadcaster, a University lecturer, an author and an analyst in Public Affairs, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

     That being said, I have found in my early adult life that it is getting more and more difficult to find employment in Florida without being bilingual.  In high school I would have considered myself bilingual or at least able to understand enough to communicate with a Spanish speaking person (remember that there are SEVERAL types of southern american languages that are slight variations of Spanish,’).  However, now, 5 years after high school, looking for a job anywhere from Miami to Orlando, most offers require you to be bilingual in Spanish and English.  I have 8 years in medical front office experience, including 1 year of managerial office work.  I have a year of medical clinical study experience, and yet I cannot happen to find a job that will accept me because I am not bilingual. 

     I understand that America is a melting pot of diverse cultures and nationalities.  In fact, there are no ‘real Americans,’ unless you are part of the original emigrators to America back in 15,000 BC from Southeast Asia.  European immigration didn’t take place until a few decades after Christopher Columbus’ ”discovery” of America and consisted of mostly Spaniards (around the 1500’s).  Although I understand Spaniards were some of the first to ‘found’ several known cities in Florida such as Pensacola and Saint Augustine, many other language-speaking settlers came to ’The New World,’ looking for freedoms (ie Germans, french), and didnt’ entirely change the demographic of the area they settled in (ie people in Massacheussetts don’t speak like British people).  There are several positive things about being diverse and having several cultures and nationalities brace our country.  We get to experience the most amazing food from all over the world right at home.  If you go to Louisiana, it’s very much influenced by french culture.  The food, the architecture.  It’s a beautiful thing when you have variety.  However, back to my main point, it shouldnt prohibit English speaking people from visiting or living there.  More so, it shouldn’t be more difficult for American CITIZENS to find work in their home country.  As I beleive America should cater to their own citizens first. 

     I grew up around so many individuals that were not here legally in the States.  Their parents, made no effort to learn English because they would stay and localize in areas that only Spanish speaking people were in.  They’d go into purely Spanish speaking stores, and deal with Spanish speaking lawyers that cater to them.  In fact, in high school many students got away without having to take exams because they were in ‘ESOL,’ a program that caters to individuals that do not speak English and is supposed to help assist them in being fluent in English.  The only exam they absolutely were not exempt from was the FCAT (which is required to be taken and passed in order to graduate high-school).  However, there were Spanish versions of the test, further encouraging non-English speaking students to say ‘the hell with English.’  What’s more disappointing, is that while I struggled with finding loans and working full time and trying to keep up with college, many of those illegal individuals, had no problem getting financial aid and going onto college.  They usually possessed a fake social security, and ID that could be found in almost any back alley of Miami, Hialeah, etc. 

     Even if Florida law prohibited them from doing these things or made it more difficult to acquire paperwork, there are states up north such as Pennsylvania that do not require certain paperwork to acquire a driver’s license.  With a driver’s license, you can pretty much get anything else.  This is what the illegal immigrants would do, passing through the gaps in our system and coming out with more benefits than me, a LEGAL American Citizen.

     Others, found ways around work permits, and once they acquired a stable and steady job at a well known business (ie Walmart, Home Depot, etc.), they would be eligible for health benefits.  Which I, myself, do not even have.

     When closely examined, it’s almost like an endless cycle of impossibility.  In order to get good health benefits (believe me I know, having worked in the field for almost 9 yrs), you need to be employed somewhere that offers good benefits because paying outright for private insurance is just ridiculously expensive.  Same for school, you can get loans and incur interest, (and financial aid if you apply), but where do you get the job to pay for it if no one will hire you without being bilingual?  I have the skills to be an efficient, motivated, focused worker, I offer experience of 8 years in one place of employment, and I’m obviously well spoken in ENGLISH.  So I ask you, is it fair that you have to be bilingual to get a job in Florida?  In my opinion, it’s most definitely not fair, and definitely not in the favor of most non-Spanish speaking American Citizens. 

     Let this be one last standing image and example in your head, recently I read a sign up on a McDonald’s window in Miami that said ‘WE SPEAK ENGLISH.’  How does that make other Americans feel in their own country when English is expectantly the first language spoken here. 

Contrary to the belief of some, the Philippines’ colonial past did little for its formation as a multilingual society.

Some History (You may just scan this part.)

Prior to the arrival of any colonizers, the Philippines had already consisted of different peoples of different cultures who had spoken languages of their own. The Filipinos traded with their Asian neighbors, most notably China, and by so doing they’ve imported some of their culture. With this, the Filipino languages borrowed some words from its neighbors’ languages.

Then came the Spaniards who invaded the Philippines for some 200 years. The Spaniards studied the languages of the natives and taught Christianity using them. At the height of Spanish rule, some Filipinos learned Spanish but others, not being taught the language, borrowed words from it but retaining the grammar of their native tongue.

After that the Americans arrived and seized control of the country from the Spaniards. Unlike the Spaniards, the Americans taught their language, English, to the Filipinos. They’ve upgraded the educational system of the Philippines. English influenced the Filipino languages too but just to a certain extent. Spanish loanwords outnumber English loanwords.

The Japanese took control of the Philippines briefly, not enough for Filipino languages to be influenced greatly by it nor for the Japanese language to be learned by the Filipinos. The Japanese lost the war to America which regained control of the archipelago.

The Philippines soon gained independence and adopted a lingua franca, Filipino, which is based on the Tagalog language.

Current Languages

Even though the Philippines had three colonizers (Japan, Spain, and the U.S.), the only foreign language largely used in it today is English. Spanish and Japanese are spoken by only a minority.

Apart from English and the lingua franca, Filipino, each region of the Philippines has a different native language. To cope up with the language barriers, the Filipinos either learn the languages of neighboring provinces or speak in the lingua franca which is Filipino.

Colonial past or not

How would it have ended without colonization? The Filipinos would still speak different languages because of the need to socialize with the other Filipino ethnic groups. They’d still learn the languages of neighboring provinces and, perhaps, a lingua franca. An average Filipino would still speak more than one language.

Note that this article is about the Philippines’ languages. I do not claim that the Philippines would be the same with or without its colonizers from whom it owes some of its progress and culture. I claim that the Filipinos would still be bilingual with or without their colonizers.

First stop is Swansea University, the main education centre in the city. Swansea University runs many Welsh speaking courses, and information about these can be found by clicking here. There are lessons for absolute beginners, intermediate speakers and even advanced conversation classes if you just want to brush up, so don’t worry about how good your classmates will be – there is bound to be a course that’s just right for you! Usually there is a small sign-up charge, but there may be concessions available, so don’t forget to ask.

Classes are not just limited to the university – there are some that run from Gower College and smaller groups in different suburbs, so there’s probably one that’s very local to you.

If you’re not keen on the idea of classes, you could pick up a self-learning tool. Swansea Central Library has many books about different languages. They have some Welsh books and learning tools that you can use to pick up some of the language.

If you want to teach your children Welsh, there are Welsh-medium schools in the area. These can be so beneficial because usually the children are totally fluent by the time they leave, which is beneficial for their careers and everyday life.

Of course, you should have fun learning Welsh! So why not meet some Welsh-speaking friends? That way, you can socialise, have fun and learn Welsh all at the same time.

However you choose to learn Welsh, good luck! (Pob lwc!)

For multi-languages household, where parents are fluent with two different languages, the children tend to pick up on both languages easier and faster. Thus, they have a better advantage in life if these skills ever come into question.

However, with technology rising and global communication being a common goal; many schools across the country have begun to introduce foreign languages into their curriculum. My son is in sixth grade, and his foreign language of choice is French, while my nephew who is in first grade takes Spanish.

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Whatever our child’s preference is, our job as parents is to help them improve their learning skills. Below are some suggestions:

• If it is at all possible, sign up for a foreign language class together, and practice at home when communicating with each other.
• Put the internet to good use by clicking on this link: http://translate.google.com/# and put in a word or sentence in English or your native language, then translate it to your child’s chosen language. You also have the option to listen to the word or sentences.
• Go to your local library and borrow some bilingual books on tape or CD for those long trips.
• There is a great selection of children’s foreign language books at the library. Help your son/daughter chose a few for reading pleasure.
• Point to objects in the house, and ask your child to tell you what it is called in the other language. You could also encourage your child to write them down on sticky notes, and tape them to the objects throughout the house.
• Watch age appropriate foreign language programs together
• If you feel adventurous enough, read current events in a foreign language online, using Google translate together.
• If you have a neighbor who speaks Spanish, French, or German, have your son/daughter practice their learned language with them.
• Disney DVDs often come with the option of other languages, select the one that your child is currently studying.
• Enroll your child in a foreign language class in the summer, since they tend to forget what they’ve learned during this time.

You have heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”, and it’s absolutely correct in learning a new language. Time has changed, and we must get with the program.

Bilingualism is the ability of a person to speak in two languages. A person becomes bilingual either by learning two languages or learning a second language some time after learning the first language. The first language many be the person’s mother tongue and the second language maybe any language that the person learns later on in life There are many advantages and disadvantages of being bilingual. Firstly being bilingual enables a person to speak in two different languages-this means that if parents belong to different cultural backgrounds then it becomes easier to communicate with each parent and it becomes easier for the parent to pass on their heritage to their child. They also have the knowledge to experience two cultures and they would be more tolerant to diversity which would reduce the chances of racism. These people can also think in two different languages and can progress socially and economically. The confidence of the person increases and it then becomes easier for that person to become multilingual (learn a third language).  Reading and writing in two languages means a bilingual person can enjoy literature in both original languages. This can create a deeper understanding of different traditions and ways of thinking and behaving. The pleasures of reading novels, poetry and magazines and the enjoyment of writing to friends and family are all doubled for bilingual people

Economically also, job opportunities increase for these people as the jobs of sales, media and marketing require people who are bilingual. In the short term people maybe hesitant to learn two languages but in the long term it becomes useful, in the fast growing era of globalization. It would also help in raising the self esteem of a person as the ability two speak in two languages may be praised. Globalization is giving rise to higher levels of communication between people and bringing them more closer. The dependency ratio is increasing, where countries are engaging in trade and are dependent on each other. This means that it is essential to learn two languages.

Apart from this, there are some drawbacks of bilingualism too. A persons thinking process will be disturbed because he/she usually thinks in one language (usually he mother tongue). This means that then it becomes difficult for a person to relate to the problem that he/she is thinking of, in the other language. Also if both the languages that a person is speaking are poorly developed then it would be difficult for that person, especially a child to cope up with the school curriculum. In case of a child knowing two languages the parents will have to be extremely careful in engineering a child’s bilingual development, especially if the parent only knows one language. Lastly, bilingualism makes a person confused about who he/she is. They may speak two languages but there are distinctly indentified as belonging to a single culture alone. Therefore, they many be uncomfortable in moving between two identites.

                                                MONOLINGUALISM

Monolingualism is the ability of a person to speak or write in a single language, which is usually the person’s mother tongue. In many countries like France and Turkey people are monolingual that is they only speak French and Turkish, and are unaware of other languages. In Pakistan also people usually speak Urdu, but there exists different dialects of this language also. Pakistan is a country which is divided into four provinces, each having its own identity, culture and language. This is why some people only speak in Urdu, whilst others only speak the language of the province to where they belong, for example Sindhi. Punjabi etc. A person usually masters one language in which he/she speaks. At times the people have to get accustomed to learning a different language, usually a second language in order to meet the needs of globalization.

Monolingualism also has certain advantages. When a person knows one language alone then a sense of pride, unity and patriotism develops. Many people speak the same language so there is improved communication and a sense of equality is promoted.  A clear sense of thinking is also developed as the person thinks in one language alone giving rise to a clarity in the thought process. This in turn, also enables a person to implement his thought and idea clearly. This takes an edge over bilingualism which means that the know how of two languages disturbs the persons thinking process and acts as a barrier in thinking creatively and clearly. If a person speaks in one language alone then his level of confidence also increases. He/ she speaks in one language alone and so is confident in talking to other people who know the language that they are speaking. This eliminates communication barriers and communication increases among people living in the same country. In France all the people only speak  French and so nationality is promoted.

Apart from the advantages there are certain disadvantages of being monolingual too. Being monolingual, hinders a person, particularly a child’s mental growth as he/ she is only taught one language. This restricts his/ her ability to learn other languages. Also, an interaction with others is hindered if that person does not know the language that the monolingual person is speaking. This is a negative aspect because the needs of the economic world today require a person to know other languages as well. It also means that employment prospects for that person are lower as that person cannot expect to apply for jobs that require people who are bilingual or multilingual. Being monolingual also means that a person does not have knowledge about other cultures apart from his/her culture. This is because the more languages that a person knows the more knowledge he/she has about other cultures. Keeping in mind our country, Pakistan consists of a variety of different cultures but a majority of people speak in Urdu. This refers specifically to many people living in Karachi where these people speak Urdu with clarity. Though this may be an advantage, but it is a disadvantage as well because then these people are unable to communicate with other people in other provinces who speak different cultural language and they lack the cultural identity that those people are a part of

MULTILINGUALISM

Multilingualism is the ability of a person to communicate in more than two languages. Multilingual people usually speak three languages this is the mother tongue, their own local and community language and other languages such as French. English  or Spanish. If a person is multilingual then he/she can clearly and easily communicate with other people belonging to different cultures and communities. A multilingual person then understands the ideas, beliefs and emotions of the people with whom they are communicating. They also have the knowledge about different cultural norms, values customs and beliefs. This increases the level of understanding between the people as they know exactly what the other person wants and what he/she  is talking about. In todays world the demand for people who are multilingual is increasing because the economic dependency between the countries have increases. Many jobs require people who are multilingual because increased dependency means the need to communicate with people belonging to different countries increases. Research also shows that people who are multilingual are highly paid and the employment prospects for them are very high. In the era of globalization the more languages a person knows, the more are the chances of progress for him.

Inspite of the benefits and advantages of multilingualism a majority of people are not multilingual. This is because it becomes difficult for people to learn different languages, whilst there are others who have the ability to learn these languages quickly and have a command and grasp over them. Such people can then progress economically and socially.  It also provides people with the ability to share in a wide range of intercultural experiences such as literature, entertainment, religion and other interests. Researchers, however point out that multilingualism means that the knowledge of more then two languages weakens the command of a person over the native language or the mother tongue. This is because a person constantly tries to learn and adopt other languages.

In Pakistan many people are trying to become multilingual because the country is going through a recessionary period. Many people believe that being multi lingual will increase their employment opportunities and will help them to progress. The local companies are facing a loss and the rise in the number of multinationals is giving a rise to the demand for people who are multilingual. This is because these people will then need to communicate with delegates belonging to different countries. Multilinguistic people are highly recognized in many different parts of the world. In Pakistan apart from English and Urdu people are learning other languages like Arabic. They become multilingual because of the religious significance attached to it. Many people learn Arabic to learn Islamic ideals and beliefs. Thus multilingualism plays a very important role in all spheres of life. Though many people are against multilingualism. These people believe that they should know one language alone in order to promote a sense of nationality, equality and solidarity. I believe that that being if a person is multilinguistic then there are little chances of any hindrances coming in their way of communication. Their knowledge base would increase as they would communicate in different languages.