Author Archives: BRL

How do kids absorb language?





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Why Bilinguals Are Smarter



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Too smart to learn a new language.



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Bilingualism and Cognition


Assistant Professor Yang Hwajin from Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Social Sciences conducted studies on bilingualism and cognition. In one study Professor Yang found that low socioeconomic status children who spoke two languages performed better in behavioural tests than monolingual. Similar results where found in another study which involved infants of low socioeconomic status. Bilingual infants from low socioeconomic status displayed a greater cognitive development than monolingual infants of the same status.This can demonstrate that bilingualism could help the development of children in deprived environments.

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Hong Kong twin study


An international study is in progress which involves twins, it aims to see if the ability to learn languages applies equally to Chinese and English.This is based on a phenomenon about bilingual learning in Hong Kong that suggests that mastering Cantonese and learning to write characters was harder for some Hong Kong children than learning English. Researchers want to look at the individual genes and find out which components of reading and writing are associated more with which genes. They hope that the study will uncover the best way to teach children languages, which will allow them to figure out whether they should teach Chinese and English in the same way or teach the two languages differently.

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Advantages as a Bilingual


According to Associate Professor Callahan, from the University of Texas, there are several advantages as a bilingual, however only 1 in 4 Americans can talk in another language. This can be due to many social and political factors that believe that speaking only one languages is better, which can be contradicted by research. According to past research findings, bilinguals are more likely to get a job when they interview, develop a greater sense of empathy, possess better problem solving skills and sharper mental perceptions, among other things. The promotion of bilingualism in more homes could help children contribute more as adults.

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Learning a new language can strengthen your brain


Professor Ping Li, along with Penn State colleagues, believe that learning and practicing a second language can change your brain network, structurally and functionally. They studied 39 native English speakers’ brains for a six-week period, half of the participants were asked to learn Chinese vocabulary. Of the subjects learning the new vocabulary, those who were more successful in attaining the information showed a more connected brain network than both the less successful participants and those who did not learn the new vocabulary. MRI scans demonstrated that the brain network of the successful learners was better integrated. The findings are consistent with changes that occur in the brain as a result of learning a second language, no matter the age of the learner.

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