Multilingualism and European Commission

In America, there is a predominant growth in multiple ethnicities and cultural backgrounds; leading to the usage of multiple languages in the American culture. There is a growing need for many people to learn and utilize multiple languages within the workplace and within one 's own personal life. The importance of bilingualism and the knowledge of multiple languages is ever increasing, and therefore becoming more important for the younger generations. The push for knowing multiple languages and becoming bilingual has many potential negative and positive effects.

Extensive research has been done on learning and speaking languages, and its known that people who speak multiple languages have better cognitive abilities than those who speak one language. Adults that speak many languages have higher intelligence, more perspective of

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 different countries. It consists of about half a billion citizens, and its combined economy represents about 20 percent of the world’s total economy (Briney, 2015). Today The European Union works as a single market, with free movement of people, goods and services from one country to another. There is a standard system of laws to be followed, and since 1999 many countries share a single currency called the Euro (Europa.eu, 2015). This essay will explore the background history of the European Union and the benefits and drawbacks of the European Union.

But what does knowing of two or more languages mean? A person who can understand more than one language, will he be considered multilingual? A person who can read more than one language, but is unable to understand them, will that be considered a multilingual? Multilingualism serves the necessity of effective communication and for that it is not necessary to have competence in all the languages. Many scholars use the notion of bilingualism and multilingualism interchangeably to refer to the knowledge of more than one language. Apart from the natural multilingualism (acquired generally in the early stages of childhood) and artificial multilingualism (when a person learns it in classroom settings; may be in childhood or adulthood), the types of multilingualism have been classified by Sridhar (1996) as Individual Multilingualism and Societal Multilingualism.

Having the ability to speak more than one language influences one’ life deeply. Speaking two or more languages can affect someone from being infants to old age. Bhattacharjee continues with, “The bilingual experience appears to influence the brain from infancy to old age (and there

How does our native language affect we think about the world and our place in it? How is speaking more than one language difficult? Tom Munnecke’s purpose was talking about how learning many languages frustrated him, and how each language frustrated him. Each of these languages he saw as “shells,” and he goes on to talk about each language and its limitations and/or opportunities. The audience for Nothing is Missing are people who are interested in learning one, or more than one, different language. This article could also apply to people who are already bilingual, or already know multiple languages. Munecke would like people who are interested in learning more than one language to know how the first language we speak affects the way we

There are approximately 6,500 different languages in the world, and knowing more than one may help a lot more than just communicating with others or getting a better job. Whether a person is bilingual, multilingual, or even a polyglot learning languages can have massive impacts on a person’s brain. People are always looking for ways to be smarter, have more focus, and perform better on tests. Languages might be the answer. Scientists have found that learning languages can offset Alzheimer’s and dementia, increase brain size and connectivity, and improve overall brain function.

The United States of America (U.S.) is a nation built of immigrants. These immigrants brought many diverse languages to the U.S.. The major languages of the U.S. besides English consist of Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, French, Vietnamese, German, and Korean. Although Multilingualism or bilingualism is uncommon in the U.S., it is common in other countries. Multilingualism or bilingualism people appear to acquire knowledge faster and have superior executive functions (Diamond). This concept was discussed in class and proves that learning another language can be extremely beneficial. Spanish is a great second language to learn due to the fact that it is the nations second most used language in the U.S.. The importance of Spanish-speaking is

The world has become a global village and that has brought a lot of changes and new work positions into the market. Almost everywhere around the globe, bilingual professionals are in high demand. Also, bilingualism opens up two worlds of experience, job opportunities, literature, resources, and cultural heritage. Bilinguals have the privilege of getting their information from a wider variety of resources. Besides, research has shown that it’s easier for bilingual children to acquire other languages later in life. A study conducted by professors of the Department of Special Education of the University of Haifa, Israel showed that “students who know two languages would have an easier time gaining command of a third language than would students who are fluent in only one language.”

Two languages open every door along the way.” (10 Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners - Voxy Blog). In other words Smith believes that if a human obtains the knowledge of one language he or she is set to achieve their goals. However if one can speak more languages, many opportunities will open along the way. Both personally and professionally, having a second language is a valuable asset. Adapting another language, benefits one when travelling to diverse countries, as it is easier to communicate to locals, and meet new people. Personally, it is also easier to adapt more languages if one is already able to speak two. Professionally speaking, if one is bilingual he or she opens major doors in the workplace. There is greater chance of being hired by an employer, as a bilingual person is able to communicate with a larger range of people, which enhances the employer’s company (9 Big Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language). Not only does bilingualism increase chances of being employed, it also increases one’s income. Studies have shown that francophone workers in Toronto, earn up to $5000 more than their monolingual coworkers (Herry-Saint-Onge).The benefits of being bilingual can only be found if the individual first invests their time and money into learning. The added costs are undeniably worth it, in the long run. Seemingly, obtaining a second language is the key to unlocking major doors,

In the last three decades there have been a large number of books and research papers written on the subject of educational and mental development of children who grow up using more than one language. This research is almost unanimously shown that children who are bilingual more creative and successful than other children.

Introductory lessons in a foreign language start out as seemingly impossible to master, yet in due time begin to make sense. Excitement escalates as the brain starts functioning in another language and continues beyond the first few lessons alone. Dincay, a professor at Istanbul Arel University, notes, “the feeling of accomplishment that comes with [students’] first steps toward a second language can spur them on to a deeper and broader passion for learning in general” (Dincay 1). Students who reach an expertise level in foreign language carry that same capability acquired first through language studies over into other realms of life, producing competent results beyond areas concerning language alone. In her article, “Benefits of Being Bilingual,” Marcos writes, “Studies suggest that persons with full proficiency in more than one language (bilinguals) outperform similar monolingual persons on both verbal and nonverbal tests of intelligence” (Marcos 1). Proficiency in a foreign language develops a needed sense of accomplishment in students, enabling them to move on and conquer other tasks and responsibilities with rare poise and fortitude. They realize that unlike monolinguals, their lives are not confined to one culture alone, but can easily extend to impact an incredible realm of people throughout their

As François Grosjean stated, “we never fail to be amazed by children who speak a second or a third language” (2012: 163), by how they tell you something in a certain language and then switch to a different one effortlessly (ibid). Such amazement persists also in countries in which a myriad of different cultures merge, such as the United Kingdom, due to the fact that monolingualism is erroneously believed to be the norm. However, in contrast with popular beliefs, research suggests that bilingual and multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers (Tucker, 1998).

The cognitive skills of those who study foreign languages has proven to much more advanced than those who are monolingual. Children who

Language is one of mankind’s most powerful inventions. From the scribbles in caves, thousand-page stories of a French Revolution, to men and women standing in front of thousands eager to listen; the written, spoken, and orations of language is a vital component of the human experience. Interestingly, the greater an individual’s mastery of language the greater his or her ability to understand the world itself, and more importantly those that live on it. The following is going to be an in-depth analysis of the impact multilingualism has on an individual’s perception, exposure, and appreciation of foreign cultures.