As the world gets increasingly interconnected, being a multilingual speaker is no longer considered a luxury but is rather becoming a norm. Learning a second language is fun, rewarding, and beneficial to your child’s cognitive development. 

Research shows that learning a foreign language can enhance brain functions such as memory, attention, creativity, and problem-solving. Here are the six cognitive benefits of learning a second language for children and how they can help them succeed in school and life.

Increases Brain Size

A study by researchers from Sweden reveals that learning a second language promotes growth in the hippocampus and several regions of the cerebral cortex. These brain parts are responsible for learning, memory formation, and language processing. They also found that the more effort and time the learners invest in studying a new language, the more their brains grow. The brain’s gray matter becomes denser as neural connections strengthen and expand.

Improves Memory Power

Learning a foreign language involves memorizing spellings and words for everyday actions, objects, emotions, and concepts. One must also master grammar rules or structures, intonation and stress patterns, and cultural competencies. This constant mental exercise improves children’s memory skills and makes them more efficient at storing and retrieving information.

Researchers from York University reveal that bilingual children perform better than monolingual children on tasks that involve remembering lists of words or numbers. They suggest that bilinguals have more efficient memory systems that enable them to encode and recall information faster.

Boosts IQ

Learning a second language can also boost a child’s intelligence quotient (IQ). IQ measures general cognitive abilities such as reasoning, logic, and problem-solving. A study by a British researcher shows that bilingual children scored higher than monolingual children on IQ tests across different age groups. The researchers estimated that learning a second language can increase IQ by an average of 4 points.

Another study by Swiss researchers found that multilingual speakers had higher IQ scores than monolingual ones. The reason is that learning a new language challenges your brain to think in different ways and apply existing knowledge to new situations.

Enhances Multi-Tasking

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health reveals that bilinguals are faster and more accurate than monolinguals at switching between tasks that involve different rules or stimuli. Learning a second language helps children develop their multi-tasking skills at a younger age. It enables them to constantly switch between languages and tasks without losing focus, accuracy, or efficiency. This trains their brain to be more flexible and adaptable to changing situations. These abilities help them perform better at tasks that involve switching between stimuli or rules. 

Improves Concentration

Learning a second language can also improve concentration and attention span. Bilinguals must pay attention to subtle differences in sounds, words, meanings, and expressions in different languages. They also have to ignore interference from their other languages when speaking or listening. These abilities help them filter out distractions and focus on relevant information more effectively.

Researchers at Northwestern University found that bilinguals are better than monolinguals at filtering background noise while listening to speech. They suggested that bilinguals have more robust auditory processing systems to tune out irrelevant sounds.

Fosters Creativity

Acquiring a second language helps foster creativity in language use and problem-solving. It allows bilingual or multilingual speakers to access more linguistic resources than monolingual ones. They can:

• use words from different languages interchangeably,
• create new comments by combining elements from foreign languages, or
• translate idioms or metaphors literally.

These practices enhance their fluency, originality, and flexibility in expressing themselves.

Multilingual speakers or people also tend to be more creative in solving problems requiring divergent thinking or multiple solutions. This may be due to their exposure to different perspectives, cultures, and ways of thinking through other languages.

Boost Your Students’ Second Language Learning Today

Learning a second language has many positive effects on children’s cognitive development. It can increase their brain size, memory, IQ, multi-tasking skills, concentration, and creativity. These benefits help them achieve better academic performance, social skills, and career opportunities.

At KidsLipi Inc., we offer educators and tutors a reliable and effective platform to help monitor their students’ progress in learning Indian languages. Our intuitive platform features free pre-built activities for Hindi, Gujarati, Sanskrit, Telugu, and Tamil to help them learn a second language effectively. It allows children to practice words and sentences at home, providing personalized learning experiences based on the school curriculum for the children’s success. Request a demo to join KidsLipi for free and start improving your students’ language learning experience today.

Schools struggle to adapt digital language learning content to their specific curriculum, and there is no easy way to turn their physical language learning content into an adaptable and dynamic digital experience. At the same time, students are becoming less and less engaged in textbook-based learning. They want a dynamic experience that helps them learn while making education fun. This is where KidsLipi comes in.

It is a digital language learning app created to help children develop proficiency in Indian regional languages. The best part is that this language learning platform provides the same high-quality learning experience to children in all regional languages. 

This article tells you all you need to know about this Indian language-learning app. Keep reading to find out more! 

How Will KidsLipi Benefit Schools and Teachers? 

Schools and teachers stand to benefit from KidsLipi in many ways. Schools can quickly and easily turn existing content/curriculum into a digital experience with the ability to create over 40 combinations of activities, games, and quizzes based on their content. Teachers get an easy management dashboard to assign work to students, and students can engage from anywhere through the easy mobile application. 

Other benefits of KidsLipi include the following:

Access to the App’s Learning Materials

Schools will access the app’s learning materials and games upon subscribing to one of this language platform’s packages. Teachers will use these materials and share them with their students. They will also augment what students learn within the class setting with tailored, confidence-building games and actions. Finally, they will utilize this platform to give their students beginner-level creative interactive books.

Access to the Required Learning Reinforcement

Teachers will have access to the required learning reinforcement via the learning app’s activities and games. There is also an availability of easy-to-read reports that will assist teachers in tracking their student’s development. Reports will give teachers crucial data on usage and proficiency, allowing them to know each student’s position and progress in comprehending the language. 

The Ability to Design Content That Is Congruent With Classroom Curriculum

This learning language management system allows teachers to design and offer content congruent with the classroom curriculum. It is also possible to customize all activities, tests, and games to match the book’s content and lessons. This gives educators total control over what students practice at home. The games the app offers give students a strong background in letters and words. 

The App’s Content Correlates With What Students Are Learning

Educators are responsible for generating KidsLipi’s content, which corresponds with what students are currently learning. This ensures that progress statistics become more relevant. It will also make educators’ lives easier by minimizing the administration, reporting, and lesson planning they may need to do.

What Is the Cost of the KidsLipi App?

There is a free version of the KidsLipi app that allows parents and teachers to access more than 300 words and sentences and over 25 different categories. This is crucial in offering an effective means of determining if the app tends to children’s learning needs.

There is also a paid version of the app, where schools buy a license of the paid platform that is usually accompanied by content creation capabilities, the design of lessons, and progress reporting. It also has a distinct login feature for each student to its mobile learning application.

KidsLipi is unique in that it caters to Indian language learning, with over 300+ words and sentences and approximately 25 to 30 activities available for free for anyone to try out. The best part is that the platform has transitioned in recent years and can now also support other languages like Spanish, French, German, and many more!

Schedule a Demo Today

KidsLipi is a digital language learning platform created to help children develop proficiency in Indian regional languages. The platform helps language educators to offer a custom-made learning experience to students. To experience more, request a demo now!

Cultural competence is an increasingly important part of 21st-century learning and global citizenship. As the world gets more interconnected, it becomes essential that students learn to appreciate and understand various cultures. Heritage language education is an inclusive way to promote cultural competence in the classroom while also helping children build a deeper connection with their culture (heritage).

With this increased awareness about local and global issues, heritage language education cultivates intercultural understanding through thoughtful interpersonal interactions among peers from diverse backgrounds — critical for personal growth and professional success in today’s world. So, read on to learn how teachers can support their students in becoming culturally competent as they learn their home languages or expand into other ones.

Acknowledgment of Multiple Identities

Heritage language education is an effective way to help individuals develop cultural competence by recognizing and acknowledging that everyone has multiple identities that collectively make up their full identity. Learning a heritage language helps an individual actively recognize the importance of their own cultural heritage while also being open-minded and respectful toward other cultures.

Developing Appreciation for Other Cultures

Heritage language education allows students to gain a more holistic understanding of other cultures as they learn about the traditions, history, and customs associated with their target language. This, in turn, promotes respect for cultural differences among peers and society.

Language Development

Through heritage language education, learners can become proficient in both their native and heritage languages. This improved language ability can help them better understand the cultural nuances of both languages. It also helps to break down language barriers and promote positive interactions between people of all backgrounds.

Improved Communication

Heritage language education offers students the opportunity to become comfortable communicating in their target language, thus improving their verbal communication skills. This enhanced communication increases access to different cultures, creating opportunities for more meaningful relationships among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Global Awareness

Learning about a culture through its language helps learners gain a global perspective encompassing multiple perspectives and worldviews. Understanding how other cultures view the world allows individuals to take a critical stance when analyzing current events and to engage in conversations about global issues.

Pride in One’s Culture

Heritage language education allows individuals to connect with their cultural roots and gain a deeper appreciation of their cultural heritage, which can help foster a sense of pride and identity. This also helps build bridges between different generations as they learn to appreciate the perspectives and values of previous generations.

Developing Intercultural Skills

Heritage language education enhances intercultural skills by providing learners with the tools necessary to effectively engage in conversations across cultures. This includes understanding the nuances and cultural implications associated with various expressions and nonverbal communication styles, as well as recognizing culturally appropriate behaviors when interacting with people from diverse backgrounds.

Creating Positive Change

By becoming culturally competent, individuals can create positive change in their community. They can help break down stereotypes and challenge racism while also promoting understanding and respect for different cultures. This can lead to more meaningful intercultural relationships, leading to a more peaceful and harmonious society.

Promote Cultural Competence

As our world becomes increasingly globalized, it is more important than ever to be aware and respectful of other cultures. Heritage language education is one way to promote cultural competence in young people. By definition, heritage languages are those passed down from previous generations within a family. Learning a heritage language not only allows children to connect with their roots but also gives them a competitive edge in an ever-changing job market.If you’re an educator dedicated to teaching language, reach out to us at KidsLipi Inc. and discover how our platform can provide activities and stories that follow your curriculum guidelines while supplying culturally specific content if needed — all with the help of a fun, interactive app! In addition, if you need assistance or have inquiries, we invite you to join our KidsLipi Community, a platform for parents and teachers alike to share resources, stories, and give each other the support they need. Let us show you how KidsLipi enables kids to learn a new language in innovative ways!