MAKE

AMERICA
BILINGUAL
BY: EMILY FLYNN

THESIS STATEMENT
America is a place of reoccurring change, a place where
people of different nations live together, and a place of
diversity. However, in a country as diverse as our own, we
find it constantly difficult to communicate with our
neighbors. American children should begin learning a
second language by kindergarten, because it helps break the
language barrier in America and the advantages of being
bilingual are to good to pass up.

BREAKING THE
LANGUAGE BARRIER

European schools have been doing for years, teach

children a second language before they reach the sixth
grade

Its best to teach them at a young age because there will

never be an easier time for them to learn. Teaching a
toddler a second language is as easy as teaching them
their first language

Most of the American education system are waiting for

middle school to start teaching children, some schools
even allow children to opt out of a language class under
certain circumstances

BREAKING THE LANGUAGE

BARRIER(CONT.)
We need to stop seeing language classes as unimportant
electives and start seeing them as lessons that have the
capability to help in the future.
Usually, language classes are the first to get cut when the
budget gets low, what we need to do is stop focusing on
scholarships for adults to try learning about a whole culture
by travelling to a different country, and instead put that
money into permanent, required language classes for
elementary school students.
Another thing to think about is mixed race children with
bilingual parents. There are classes that can be taken so
that a child wont lose its culture, teaching other students in
schools could make it easier for the child to transition and
adjust.

LEARNING
ADVANTAGES

Bilingual children have the ability to focus on the task at

hand while avoiding distractions.

They also have a more flexible outlook, usually seeing

things for what they are and basing there opinions on
what they see going around them currently.

It also helps lead children to collaborative learning.

Learning through group activities and problem solving as
a team will help these children with their communication
skills. Good communication skills are a good thing to
have when you live in one of the most diverse counties in
the world.

LEARNING
ADVANTAGE(CONT.)

Once college comes around you will be fluent in at least

two different languages which is a step up from most
American adults today. Even college students are
struggling in foreign language classes, whether it be from
class budgeting, or underexposure.

If someone wants to go study abroad, then learning the

language of that country will increase the possibility of
them actually retaining something from these adventures.

Theres also the advantage of using it for a job, business

men should definitely be learning a second language so
that communication with corporations from other
countries is a lot easier.

CONCLUSION
America is a place where people can come for a fresh start,
or a better life, or whatever they choose. Its understandable
that Americans would seem learning a second language
unnecessary, especially if they never want to leave the
country, but being bilingual would mean so much more than
that. America should be learning a second language at a
young age because it will help break the language barrier
and bilinguals have advantages that most dont realize. The
moment we begin trying to learn the language of our
neighboring nations, is the moment we begin to truly unify
between nations.

MLA:
Beale, Lewis. "U.S. Students Hurting in Foreign Languages."
Medium. N.p., 17 May 2010. Web. 30 July 2016.
<https://psmag.com/u-s-students-hurting-in-foreign-languagesdbda5f3fa00c#.2jhigajlw>.
Devlin, Kat. "Learning a Foreign Language a must in Europe, Not
so in America." Pew Research Center RSS. Pew Research Center, 13
July 2015. Web. 25 July 2016. <http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2015/07/13/learning-a-foreign-language-a-must-in-europe-notso-in-america/>.
Friedman, Amelia. "America's Lacking Language Skills." The
Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 10 May 2015. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/05/fillingamericas-language-education-potholes/392876/>.
Lynch, Ed.D. Matthew. "Why Bilingual Education Should Be
Mandatory." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Jan.
2015. Web. 30 July 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthewlynch-edd/why-bilingual-education-s_b_6168638.html>.