Why two languages are better than one.

I grew up in a neighborhood where different languages were all around me. My mother and grandmother spoke Dutch, our next-door neighbor spoke Chinese, and my best friend’s father spoke Turkish.

None of us learned to speak those languages beyond a few choice words (probably not for publication!) But many of the words and phrases we learned remain burned in our collective memories.

Why? Because we learned them so early!

Exposure to a second language boosts brain development

It turns out that even the exposure to all those different languages may have helped us more than we realized! Research reveals that hearing and processing multiple languages strengthens our neural connections, improves problem-solving skills, and actually enhances overall cognitive function (Bialystok, 2011; Kuhl, 2010).

The earliest years are the “golden years”

Because our brains are growing so rapidly when we are young, early exposure to multiple languages has the biggest impact.

This doesn’t mean parents have to be bilingual or fluent. Studies are demonstrating that even a little exposure to another language boosts early brain development. In other words, simply listening to another language—through conversations, books, music, or interactive activities—has significant benefits for brain development, cognitive flexibility, and academic success.

As a publisher of multilingual stories, I was eager to share what I’ve learned from some of the most relevant research on how language expands our brains. Here are some highlights:

1. It’s never too early!

Nature makes our brains most adaptable and flexible during early childhood, so this is perfect time for exposure to multiple language. For example, studies show that infants as young as six months old can distinguish between different languages and recognize patterns in speech, even if they are not actively learning to speak both languages (Kuhl, 2010).

2. Exposure to more languages increase brain “plasticity”

Some of the advantages of early exposure to multiple languages includes enhanced “neuroplasticity.” When our brain is exposed to new sounds and words, it builds and strengthens more neural pathways. This helps children process information more quickly and efficiently through life.

3. A boost for phonemic awareness

Phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, recognize, and manipulate sounds in words, is a crucial and foundational skill for early literacy. Almost counter-intuitively, children who are exposed to a second language develop a heightened sensitivity to sounds and rhythms in speech.

This extra sensitivity to the sounds of words (regardless of the language) helps children with pronunciation (the ability to reproduce sounds), reading readiness (the ability to decode words), and improved listening and comprehension, due to improved ability to distinguish and process spoken language more efficiently.

So, even if a child doesn’t speak the second language with fluency, their ears and brain become more attuned to linguistic sounds, which helps to strengthens speech development and reading in the primary language.

4. Stronger working memory and self-regulation

One of the most fascinating findings in cognitive science was learning that just exposure to multiple languages can help to develop a child’s working memory (holding and manipulating information in their mind). Engagement with multiple languages even helps children self-regulate, such as controlling their impulses and focusing attention.

These benefits extend into life: researchers have observed that bilingual individuals consistently perform better on tasks that require problem-solving, multitasking, and adapting to new rules (Bialystok, 2011; Carlson & Meltzoff, 2008).

5. Empathy and cultural awareness

Engagement with another language at any level also leads important social and emotional benefits. According to researchers, children who hear and interact with multiple languages, develop greater empathy because it helps them understand different perspectives (Fan et al., 2015). These studies also show children develop heightened awareness of other cultures and feel more comfortable communicating with people from different backgrounds.

Different languages bring benefits for a lifetime

Many parents and educators alike worry that if they aren’t fluent in a second language, they can’t provide meaningful interactions for their children or students in that language. But this doesn’t turn out to be true! Research shows that early engagement with a second language, even in small amounts, can positively shape a child’s brain and learning abilities (Kuhl, 2010).

Here are some ways to expose children to multiple languages — without having to be fluent or an “expert”:

✔ Read bilingual books – Even if you don’t speak the second language fluently, pointing to words and discussing them builds awareness.
✔ Play songs and nursery rhymes in both English and other languages – Music helps reinforce rhythm, vocabulary, and aids pronunciation in any language.

✔ Listen to audiobooks, ideally with a physical book to follow along –Exposure to text with audio in natural contexts helps with word recognition.
✔ Use language-learning programs and games – look for interactive activities in other languages to make learning engaging and fun.

Whether through books, videos, conversations, music, or play—engagement with multiple languages stimulates brain development, improves cognitive function, and enhances literacy skills. The goal is not perfection, but consistent and enjoyable exposure. Every bit of language input helps!

Cynthia Harrison Barbera

Cynthia Harrison Barbera is President and CEO, StoryWorld International. She served as VP Educational Technology for Scholastic and is the recipient of two US Presidential awards for educational programs. An Emmy-award winner for a television series on education, she has taught English to native-speakers and ELL students in the US and overseas.

References:

Bialystok, 2011; Carlson & Meltzoff, 2008; Fan, Liberman, Keysar & Kinzler, 2015; Kovelman, Baker & Petitto, 2008; Kuhl, 2010; Snow, 2010.