Brandon University
Language, Canadians,
and the Global Village
The Importance of Increased Bilingualism in Canada and Abroad
Michelle Corbett
2/14/2012
Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
Second language learning and bilingualism are crucial skills in the modern world. By
learning another language students open doors to a better future. They can improve their own
literacy, get a better job, help to solve world issues, and increase their long term health and
that is just skimming the surface.
Studies show that not only does second language learning improve cognitive abilities
but it also improves cognitive flexibility. (Bilingual Skills a Boost for Brain: Study, n.d.).
People who are fluent in more than one language are able to see things in unique ways. When
they speak in one language the other one is still active and interpreting in the back of their
minds. This means they are able to see the situation through the lens of the cultural diversity
of the other language they speak, and therefore come up with innovative solutions. (How Do
You Say?, 2011). This makes sense when one examines figures of speech in another
language. It becomes telling what that cultural group believes about the world, and those
ideas exist in the very framework of the languages that cultural group speaks. (Akay, 2012).
By becoming fluent in a language one develops a deep understanding of the culture behind
that language and it opens up new pathways in the mind, allowing for a greater cognitive
ability.
A second language also has the ability to help the speaker better understand their first
language. Through learning the grammar rules of a second language, the student is forced to
reexamine the grammar rules of their first language and compare them. (Roeper, 2012). This
leads to a better grasp of the language rules of both languages and can lead to developing a
stronger sense of meaning and fluency in the student’s first language. There are studies to
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Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
show that reading and writing in a second language can help with literacy in the student’s
first language as well. (Van Gelderen, 2011). Bilingual students are more likely to have
higher IQ scores because knowing multiple languages affects not only how students view
language, but also how they view their world. (Barac, 2011). These educational benefits of
second language learning have long term positive effects on the lives of students.
The ability to speak two languages or several is a great way to open up career options.
In today’s global economy many employers consider employees who are bilingual or
multilingual to be great assets. This is especially true in business and government. Many
businesses have connections overseas and conferencing goes a lot more smoothly when
someone who is fluent in both languages is present. Languages like French, Spanish,
Mandarin, Russian, Japanese, and German are just a few of the languages other than English
that are commonly spoken in the business world. (Akay, 2012). In politics it is a similar
situation. From the UN to regional language differences right within Canada, a second
language can open up endless possibilities. While French is a common second language
choice in the education system, Mandarin is just one example of a language that might start
to become more useful as a second language on the National scale. (Akay, 2012). While it
may be difficult to decide which language would be most beneficial to learn, one thing is
clear, second language acquisition is a valuable pursuit for all Canadians. (Mady, 2012).
In the United States bilingual education has long been rejected, while Canadians have
taken a more liberal approach to language learning. (The Benefits of Fluent Bilingualism,
2011). However, we are still a long way behind much of the rest of the world when it comes
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Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
to learning multiple languages in school. It is important to try to change this trend or we will
not be able to make the economic leaps which countries who speak multiple languages for
business are able to. The global economy is fast paced, and diverse. It requires bilingual and
multilingual people to operate. (The Benefits of Fluent Bilingualism, 2011). If Canada
cannot establish an emphasis on multiple-language learning in the school system it will fall
behind. (Mady, 2012).
Learning another language increases cultural awareness. (Yang, 2011). This allows a
bilingual or multilingual person to communicate more effectively with a large diversity of
people. Even if these people are from a culture that speaks a language unknown to the
bilingual, they still have an increased understanding that cultural differences do exist in the
world and that makes them open to being more accepting of any situations that might occur.
A bilingual or multilingual person may be more willing to experience culturally diverse
situations, and find it easier to adapt to them. They also may have the ability to smooth over
any misunderstandings that might occur. (Akay, 2012). With increased cultural awareness it
is only natural that travel is much more meaningful for a bilingual or multilingual person
because they are able to open themselves up to the diversity of other cultures and truly
experience it. Multiple languages work as a support and stepping stone to confidence in
exploring unfamiliar cultures and traditions. (Akay, 2012). The person with two or more
languages is able to get more out of their travel experiences because they can see them
through the filter of the multiple lenses of the languages they know, allowing for a fuller
interpretation and understanding of a new situation. (Roeper, 2012).
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Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
Globalization is making the world smaller and the speed of information travelling
around the world via technology can be alarming. Second language learning is essential for
surfing the waves of globalization without capsizing. Learning a third or even fourth
language is probably a good idea too. (How Do You Say?, 2011). The bilingual or
multilingual is better equipped to keep up with the global conversations going on right now
in business, in government, and through media like the internet. It is not out of the question
to talk to diverse people from around the world that could change one’s life. The only thing
that is in the way of these kinds of conversations most often is the language barrier. In
education it is a goal to create citizens who are active in their communities and responsible
enough to make decisions about the future. (Akay, 2012). Through technology the world is
now just an extension of our immediate communities. If students are to be equipped to solve
world issues, and taught values of acceptance and understanding of diversity, second
language learning is the key. (Akay, 2012). Second language acquisition makes a greater
global understanding accessible and possible for young Canadians. (Yang, 2011).
If all these reasons were not enough to convince someone that second language
acquisition is beneficial, consider also the health benefits. Learning another language as a
child makes people less susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. Although, as of yet, there is no
research as to if learning a second language later in life is beneficial in this same way, it
seems likely that it would be in the same way that any activity that exercises the mind would
be in deterring Alzheimer’s. (Craik, 2010). It makes sense to learn a new language because it
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Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
will be useful in a variety of ways throughout an individual’s lifetime and it will take some
pressure of the healthcare system by improving the long term health of Canadians.
There are a huge number of benefits to learning a second language. The Canadian
government and Canadian educators need to put a stronger emphasis on second language
acquisition. Not only are there great benefits for the individual, but it will also help to
improve Canada as a nation and economically in the global economy. Healthier Canadians
both physically and mentally put less strain on the health care system and require less
educational assistance in Canadian classrooms. Second-language learning improves
understanding of the cultural mosaic that is Canada and improves literacy levels. These
benefits help shape a highly skilled workforce that will be able to keep up and compete in the
global economy, while actively participating in global politics. The world is becoming
smaller and people need to look beyond their individual communities, and expand their
knowledge of things happening around the world. Increased promotion of bilingualism
among Canadians should be our first step.
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Language, Canadians, and the Global Village
Michelle Corbett
References
(n.d.). Bilingual Skills a Boost for Brain: Study. New Zealand Herald, The.
(2011, October 18). How Do You Say? New York Times. 4.
(2011, December 15). The Benefits of Fluent Bilingualism. Washington Post, The. 12.
Akay, L. (2012). Language Skills & Globalization. Skipping Stones, 24(1), 13.
Barac, R., & Bialystok, E. (2011). Cognitive Development of Bilingual Children. Language
Teaching, 44(1), 36-54.
Craik, F. M., Bialystok, E., & Freedman, M. (2010). Delaying the Onset of Alzheimer
Disease: Bilingualism as a Form of Cognitive Reserve. Neurology, 75(19), 1726-1729.
Mady, C. (2012). Official Language Bilingualism to the Exclusion of Multilingualism:
Immigrant Student Perspectives on French as a Second Official Language in
‘English-Dominant’ Canada. Language & Intercultural Communication, 12(1), 7489.
Roeper, T. (2012). Minimalism and Bilingualism: How and Why Bilingualism Could Benefit
Children with SLI. Bilingualism: Language & Cognition, 15(1), 88-101.
Van Gelderen, A., Oostdam, R., & Van Schooten, E. (2011). Does Foreign Language
Writing Benefit From Increased Lexical Fluency? Evidence from a Classroom
Experiment. Language Learning, 61(1), 281-321.
Yang, S., Yang, H., & Lust, B. (2011). Early Childhood Bilingualism Leads to Advances in
Executive Attention: Dissociating Culture and Language. Bilingualism: Language &
Cognition, 14(3), 412-422.
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