The Medical Daily – Stephen Castillo
“There are several benefits of learning a new language, the latest being it promotes a better understanding (and acceptance of) psychology and diversity. The study, published in Developmental Science, tested a total of 48 study 5- and 6-year-olds who were either monolingual, simultaneous bilingual (learning two languages at once), and sequential bilingual (learning one language, then another). Researchers told the kids stories of English babies adopted by Italians and ducks raised by dogs. Afterwards, researchers asked kids if the babies would grow up to speak English or Italian and the ducks to quack or bark. Krista Byers-Heinlein, lead study author and a member of the Centre for Research in Human Development in Montreal, said in a press release that she predicted the sequential bilinguals’ personal experience of learning languages would help them understand human language is learned, while traits, such as animal vocalizations, were innate. While the first part of her hypothesis was true — sequential bilinguals believed babies raised Italian would speak Italian — they also believed this to be the case for the ducks. Not only did they think ducks raised by dogs would bark, but they also believed ducks would run instead of fly. Despite this, bilinguals were found to have an advantage.”(more)