Home > Benefits of Bilingualism

Benefits of Bilingualism considers to what extent language and culture are part of who we are. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to discuss how language could limit the way we think.
Time
30-40 minutes
Main Skill
Reading
Theme and topic
Identities: - Benefits of Bilingualism
Download Available
Reading Comprehension Exercise
Watch a video discussing the relationship between language and culture. Answer the questions after you have watched the video.
Read the text about some of the benefits of bilingualism. and answer the questions that follow.
Adapted from the joys and benefits of bilingualism by Tobias Jones.
Here are the keywords and phrases to learn:
- bilinguals
- code-switching
- cognition
- cross-language concepts
- linguistic determinism
- linguistic relativity
- melancholic
- stereotypically
- superficial
Answers from the video.
1. nouns. verbs, consonants, vowels, phrases, sentences
2. b
3. Linguistic relativity
4. Hopi language and concepts of time
5. translation, thoughts, viewpoints
- Prepare a talk to give to parents of new students at your school on the benefits of speaking another language or maintaining students' mother-tongue languages at home. Here is an example of how to write a speech.
- Write a proposal to the School Principal suggesting ways the school might better support students' mother tongue. Here is a sample template.
- Be directed at the Principal (audience)
- Include formal language (register)
- Address the goals of the proposal with a title
- Use clear organization through the use of subheadings.

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