The Benefits of Dual Language Learning
Did you know that at the Refugee Education Center’s Hands Connected Early Learning Center, we can teach in eight different languages?
Arabic
English
Hindi
Kinyarwanda
Kirundi
Nepali
Swahili
Urdu
This cutting-edge environment enables refugee children to retain their native (and/or home-spoken) language(s) while also learning English and the basics to be a Dual Language Learner (DLL).
Many studies have shown the benefits of dual language learning for brain development, long-term academic performance, and long-term economic opportunity.
For our refugee students, there is also the immediate benefit of preserving the ability to communicate with their parents and/or caregivers while maintaining an aspect of their culture after being resettled in a new home.
Prior to the opening of our Hands Connected Early Learning Center, refugee families in Grand Rapids found it difficult to access quality, culturally specific, early childhood education.
“The need to learn English is imperative in the newcomer community,” says Susan Kragt, Refugee Education Center executive director. “But it’s all too easy to position a child’s native language as a barrier to be overcome rather than an asset to be maintained and developed. This is striking, especially with the increased attention given to the advantages of bilingualism. In a time when our world is increasingly interconnected and knowing multiple languages is a critical skill in the global economy, this is not only a loss for kids and their families but for the whole community. We want to change that.”
Without intentional and specific programming, many of these children began school already behind their native English-speaking peers.
Linda Espinosa writes in the Foundation for Child Development August 2013 issue, “As a group, DLL students have [historically] struggled to become proficient in English, chronically been in the lowest levels of academic achievement, and had school drop-out rates almost twice those of native English speakers.”
Early education is important for all children. However, for English Learners, it requires a unique approach to be successful. Care providers must be able to assist children in acquiring English skills while also allowing them to develop skills in their native language.
Espinosa continues, “For young children who are actively processing and have not yet mastered the fundamentals of their first language, completely shifting to a new, unfamiliar language during the early childhood years may negatively impact the ongoing development of their home language, as well as academic achievement in English in the long run.”
Espinosa also indicates that developing high proficiency in multiple languages gives children a long-lasting advantage.
Multi-lingual and multi-cultural providers are also necessary for ensuring refugee parents can engage in the care and development of their child and that services are designed with the various refugee cultural groups in mind.
Based on this research, the Refugee Education Center created an environment that encourages a multicultural, multilingual learning environment for our young students. Our team works with children and parents of similar language backgrounds to develop dual language skills, ensure proper communication with parents, and prepare children for their future in US schools.
Providing cutting-edge education is one of the many ways that our team supports refugees in their journey to become fully participating members of the West Michigan community.
For additional reading about DLL take a look at this article and this article from Linda Espinosa.