Multilingualism Is a Strength. Why Isn’t Curriculum Designed That Way?
ELSF's Founder and Executive Director Crystal Gonzales writes an op-ed about the importance of schools, and curriculum, treating multilingual learners as assets.
"Decades of research show that multilingualism is not a barrier, but a benefit. Students who speak more than one language develop stronger cognitive flexibility, better problem-solving skills and higher levels of academic achievement. Bilingual students also have higher earning potential in the workforce and bring critical global skills our country needs.
Two decades of research across the U.S. also proves that two-way, dual-language programs can not only narrow the academic gap, but in some instances fully close it. Longitudinal studies show that multilingual learners often outperform their English-only peers in math, literacy, and graduation rates once reclassified."
Read the full article on LA School Report.
If multilingualism builds stronger students and communities, then schools must treat it as the asset it is. That means adopting curricula that support both language development and content learning, instead of watered down instruction.