The Benefits of Bilingual Education in Japan
Synopsis
Bilingual education in Japan has many benefits. To be bilingual, a person must have true mastery of two languages. This ability to speak two languages offers many benefits that enrich one’s life. For instance, bilingual people can concentrate, focus and multitask more easily. In addition, being bilingual strengthens the brain and can delay the onset of dementia.
In addition, bilingualism makes a person more employable and allows them to interact with foreigners and travel to foreign countries with confidence. OWIS Osaka recognises these benefits and provides an immersive experience for students to become bilingual. Combined with an inquiry-led curriculum, the languages are taught in an enjoyable and meaningful manner through collaboration with other students, hands-on projects and a variety of other activities to help students become comfortable speaking both English and Japanese.
Introduction
Many people strive to become better at multitasking, concentrating, solving problems and focusing. Growing up bilingual can help in all of these areas. Plus, studies have shown that being bilingual positively affects the structure of the brain, delaying the onset of dementia. In addition, being bilingual can propel people into successful careers, aid in global business, make travelling more enjoyable and enriching and allow for easier communication with foreigners.
Because of all of the benefits of bilingual education in Japan, One World International School Osaka provides an engaging, fun and immersive way for each child to become bilingual. Teachers motivate students to learn and become comfortable with both Japanese and English. Plus, when combined with our inquiry-led curriculum, students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate and become lifelong learners.
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Bilingual?
When someone is truly bilingual, it means they have true mastery of two languages. They should have a high level of competency in both languages and feel comfortable using both. Switching from one language to another should be easy, and they should also be well-versed in slang and local nuances. Most people still feel more comfortable in their native tongue, the language spoken at home. This is perfectly normal, and anyone who grows up speaking two languages is indeed bilingual.
There are many benefits of bilingual education, and the multicultural atmosphere of One World International School Osaka, plus language education, allows each child to experience other cultures and work to be bilingual. We offer an OWIS English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme, which is designed to support non-English speaking students with mastering the English language.
What Are the Benefits of Bilingual Education?
Many seek bilingual education in Japan because it opens many doors at school, home and work. Those who are bilingual tend to be able to concentrate, solve problems, multitask and focus better. Here are just a few of the many additional benefits of bilingual education:
The Ability to Build Businesses that Have International Reach
As with building a business anywhere, it’s important to think globally. The more languages leaders in the company know, the greater the reach of that company. Even if a child has no plans to own a business, they become more employable when they are bilingual. Being able to add bilingual status to any resume is going to help with being hired and career advancement.
Adaptability When Interacting With Foreigners
Tourism is a driving force in Japan, and many businesses deal with foreigners every day. When a person can interact with foreigners by speaking the same language, it enriches life. When interacting with a tourist, it’s easier to understand their needs and learn about them. In business, it’s essential to be able to make deals and understand clients and contacts across the globe.
Being Confident and Capable When Traveling Abroad
It’s a rewarding experience to visit other places in the world. Those who are bilingual can feel confident about travelling and making their way in other countries. There are so many amazing sights to see and people to meet. Some people hesitate to travel because of not knowing the language. They are missing out, and feeling confident in a foreign country makes travel an all-around better experience.
Changes in the Brain of Bilingual Children and Adults
A recent study published in Brain Structure and Function shows that bilingualism has a positive effect on the structure of the brain. The study looked at the brains of participants who ranged in age from 3 to 21 years old. Researchers wanted to compare the brains of people who speak multiple languages with those who only speak one. They found that people who are bilingual have more grey matter, which controls daily functions such as memory and motor skills. In addition, there was more integrity of the white matter, which contains nerve fibres. Therefore, those who are bilingual find it easier to concentrate, solve problems, focus and multitask.
In the past, many speculated that bilingual children were at a developmental disadvantage to their peers. This new research disputes that. It’s true that some bilingual children develop speech slightly later than their peers, but their understanding is not affected. In fact, the increase in brain matter slows the ageing of the brain.
How to Maximise English Learning in Children?
Children need to be motivated to learn a foreign language at home and school. It’s important for parents to encourage English language learning both inside and outside the classroom. There are many resources available online and in the community where parents can explore extracurricular English lessons with their children. This extra work is important and aids in the mission of learning another language at school.
It’s also essential to provide a rich, engaging and immersive learning experience for each child at school. Our educational approach at OWIS Osaka provides this type of learning experience for our students. We allow children to build on their existing language skills through collaborative work, hands-on activities and other methodologies that provide a rich framework for our students. We provide instruction in both languages for an equal period of time so students benefit from a truly immersive experience.
Conclusion
There are many benefits of bilingual education in Japan. Studies show that being bilingual boosts the brain’s grey and white matter. This slows down the ageing process of the brain and strengthens memory and motor skills. In addition, being bilingual provides advantages in the ability to build businesses with international reach, adaptability when interacting with foreigners and being confident and capable when travelling abroad. Because of these benefits, we provide a bilingual programme for our students, which is delivered in an immersive environment. Children learn through collaborative work and hands-on activities that make learning fun, rewarding and meaningful.
