The world we live in is constantly changing, and countries are becoming more and more connected. Learning a second language has become a necessity, as it opens the doors to greater academic, work, cultural and personal opportunities, which is why parents are betting on early learning of a second language for their children. Read on and learn the differences between a bilingual school and a non-bilingual school.
Differences between a bilingual school and a regular school
| REGULAR SCHOOL | BILINGUAL SCHOOL |
| The second language is studied as an additional subject. | Native bilingualism works on different areas of learning in two languages. |
| Children translate their ideas from Spanish to English. | Children are able to assimilate English as their mother tongue. |
| Limited creativity. | More creativity. |
| Difficulty communicating with people from different parts of the world. | Increased ability to communicate with people from other parts of the world. |
| Reduced job opportunities | Increased job opportunities |
| Multicultural diversity | |
| Exchanges and travel abroad | |
One of the big differences between studying in a bilingual school and studying in a non-bilingual school, where the second language is seen as just another subject in the curriculum, is due to the context. Learning the language under the reality of the context in which the child finds himself will allow him to expand his way of seeing the world, while learning the language in isolation will hinder his level of immersion in the language.
Bilingual education from an early age greatly enhances children’s intellectual capacity. Being educated in a bilingual school from the time children begin their learning process will allow them to assimilate English as a second mother tongue and will increase their communication skills, creativity and cultural knowledge, since the brain will remain active in both hemispheres where language moves.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Learning a language at an early age allows you to communicate fluently with other people, learning a language at an advanced age will make you resort to translating in your mind what is meant, while a bilingual person will express themselves naturally without the need to think before speaking in their native language and having to translate it.
MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY
The appropriation of the language as a second mother tongue provides the ability to interact with other cultures and understand them better. The person becomes more aware of his or her identity in the world and of the characteristics and behaviors of those around him or her.
EXCHANGES AND TRAVEL ABROAD
One of the most significant advantages for children who study in bilingual schools is to be able to share with people from other countries and to carry out cultural and academic exchanges in an effective and productive way. This learning opportunity is enhanced when it takes place on a revolutionary campus.
Studying abroad can become one of the best academic and personal life experiences for students, so having the appropriation of the second language will make the learning process and adaptation to the culture of the country where your child wants to study easier.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The ability to express oneself perfectly in a second language opens a wide range of possibilities to obtain a higher economic income, companies will prefer more qualified personnel such as bilinguals because they are able to express themselves naturally in two languages.
Nowadays it is common to find that parents prefer their children to study in a bilingual school because it allows them to opt for a better future. It is important to pay close attention when choosing a school for your children, since not all schools that claim to be bilingual are because the requirements for a school to be bilingual in Colombia are very high; learning a second language will be the key to the personal and professional success of children.