The Pros And Cons Of Attending A Bilingual School | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Pros And Cons Of Attending A Bilingual School

Two languages are better than one.

7229
The Pros And Cons Of Attending A Bilingual School
The Gospel Coalition

Starting in the first grade, I spoke both English and Spanish daily at school. Specifically, half of my day was spent learning in English and the other half was spent learning in Spanish. This meant that by the time I graduated from the bilingual Dual Immersion Academy in the eighth grade, I had a solid bilingual background. I absolutely loved my bilingual education: it gave me many gifts that I would never have received if I had gone through a typical school. Here are some pros and cons that come with learning a second language in school.

Pro:

I understood and appreciated cultural diversity at a young age. At my school, my teachers and classmates celebrated all cultures. We had to; everyone in my class was from a different background. Half of my class consisted of English dominant speaking kids, the other half consisted of Spanish dominant speaking kids. Our language and cultural differences never separated us though, we kept strong friendships for all eight years we were together. Even today, 6 years later, I cherish the relationships I made in my bilingual school.

Con:

Sometimes learning specific content was difficult. Starting in about 3rd grade, learning became intense in our second languages. I can remember suffering through a long division lesson in my second language as an eight year old. In the eighth grade, my entire American History class was taught in Spanish. Although I did in the end learn the content, it was difficult to focus entirely on specific lessons when they were being taught in my second language.

Pro:

I became bilingual quickly. Children can learn languages much faster than adults, which is one reason why my bilingual education was so efficient. By the time I was in the 5th grade, I had a great understanding of both English and Spanish. Not only could I speak in both languages, but I could also read and write in both as well. This ability has been a great gift that I will be able to use for the rest of my life. It will help me in my future careers, relationships, and more.

Con:

I had to stop my bilingual education when I started high school. For my specific bilingual program, the class level offered only reached the eighth grade. After that, students were told to continue their journeys on their own in high school. For me, this meant one 50 minute Spanish class per day. Unfortunately, this 50 minute class was too easy and too short, even though I took Spanish class for all four years of high school. I found that I lost a lot of my conversational skill in my second language over those four years. I also feel like reading in my second language has become more choppy and my writing is less eloquent.

Pro:

My primary schooling gave me a leg up in the professional world. Because I can speak, write, and understand two languages, I have an edge that most other Americans don't have. Being bilingual is a huge advantage when looking for any job, and I gained this advantage in elementary school.

Overall, being a bilingual student was well worth it. I can still speak Spanish well and I can easily understand and converse in the language. I feel more prepared to enter the workforce when I am ready because I believe I have an advantage over other, one language speaking individuals. I learned how to appreciate and love people of other cultures. I will never forget my experience attending a bilingual school.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

197667
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19340
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461249
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28510
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments