Introduction
Entering the current era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the demands for quality human
resources are getting higher. The reason is that the implementation of Industry 4.0 must be able
to increase productivity, absorb labor, and expand the market for the national industry. The
Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto, as quoted from Poskotanews.com 29 September 2018,
appealed to the young generation of Indonesian millennials to intensify English, statistics and
coding lessons, as an absolute matter for industrial human resources to be able to compete in the
Industry 4.0 era. As an international language it is not surprising, mastery of English is one of the
important things. English is considered an international language which is quite important to
learn and can be started from education in Kindergarten.
The introduction of English to children from an early age is an effort to make children
bilingual. The increasing number of PAUD institutions that are starting to implement bilingual
learning actually also answers the great desire of parents who expect their children to know
English from an early age. They believe that the earlier children are introduced to a foreign
language, the easier it will be for children to master and be embedded in their subconscious. This
subconscious memory will appear again when there is a trigger. There is an assumption that it is
easier for children to learn languages than adults. The habit that is carried out with various
activities in English will be a provision later in making it easier for them to master English. This
view is supported by language experts like McLaughlin and Geneesee, as well as nueuroligi
experts such as Eric H. Lennerberg (Djuharie, 2011)
The bilingual learning program for children at the PAUD institution level is an effort to
introduce a second language to children, especially English, which is carried out in the teaching
and learning process. Because the principle of learning in Kindergarten is playing while learning,
bilingual learning cannot be separated from the methods and strategies that include playing
elements. Efforts are made to ensure that all forms of activities are not burdensome to the child
and in accordance with their development. In order to have the ability to be bilingual, children
must get a lot of input and practice through listening and speaking activities of the two languages
studied, with a strategy that considers the quality and quantity of introducing the language to be
studied, so that real results can be obtained in the development of bilingualism (Baker, 2000).
Pros and cons accompany this concept of bilingualism. There is an opinion stating that
bilingualism has a negative effect such as speech delays (Sulivan, Ausubel, Ives, in Takakuwa,
2000) but this is also denied by different opinions. Instead of having a bad impact, the opinion
states that bilingualism provides good benefits for children, especially their cognitive
development. This article will discuss the development of children, especially the cognitive
development of children who take bilingual programs.