Bilingualism

Puerto Rico Aims To Become Fully Bilingual By 2022

AP | DANICA COTO | Posted 05.08.2012

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The governor of Puerto Rico is trying to do what more than a century of American citizenship has failed to accomplish: make P...

Learning Two or Twenty Languages: Is There a Secret?

Stacie Nevadomski Berdan | Posted 04.26.2012

Stacie Nevadomski Berdan

I hear countless numbers of stories about how difficult learning a second language can be and why some people just seem to have a knack.

Conditions Are Perfect For Bilingual Education - So Why Is It In Decline?

Stephen Palacios | Posted 04.16.2012

Stephen Palacios

The global economy benefits from a labor force that can transact business in more than one language, which would seem to reinforce the need for bilingual education. While English is the lingua franca of today's global economy, it is hard to argue that knowing another language is a disadvantage in today's (or tomorrow's) market.

Ask A Mexican: Spanish Slang Edition

Gustavo Arellano | Posted 05.28.2012

Gustavo Arellano

Wake up and smell the tacos, cabrón, and learn español from mi column. Bilingualism is a wonderful thing, and studies are continually showing it leads to bigger brains and healthier sex lives.

Adventures in Hyperpolyglottery: Inside the Mind of Extreme Language Learners

Nataly Kelly | Posted 02.28.2012

Nataly Kelly

As it turns out, learning languages is easier -- and more pleasurable -- for some folks than for others. In fact, there is a group of individuals who find the process so enjoyable that they take it to another level entirely. They're known as hyperpolyglots.

Cristina Costantini

En Miami, A Decir 'Hola' Or To Say 'Hello'

HuffingtonPost.com | Cristina Costantini | Posted 11.30.2011

The choice of whether to address a stranger in English or Spanish is often a split-second decision -- one which has provoked much conversation in the ...

To Speak Or Not To Speak.. Spanish

Posted 12.26.2011

Does speaking English and Spanish fluently make you less American? Is bilingualism a hindrance to the American dream? As the nation’s Latino pop...

5 Facts About Bilingualism

Delia Lloyd | Posted 12.13.2011

Delia Lloyd

Students who learn a foreign language out-score their non-foreign language learning peers in the verbal and -- surprisingly, perhaps -- math sections of standardized tests.

Bilingual Voting Ballots Ordered In 25 States

AP | HOPE YEN | Posted 12.12.2011

WASHINGTON — In the run-up to the 2012 elections, the federal government is ordering that 248 counties and other political jurisdictions provide...

Vistas: Bilingually Speaking About Latino Culture

Posted 12.06.2011

There are some who argue as to the fundamental need for speaking Spanish in order to maintain a strong connection to the shared, root elements of Lati...

The Power of Spanglish to Make us Laugh

Mariela Dabbah | Posted 12.09.2011

Mariela Dabbah

Regardless of where you stand on the Spanglish debate, for those of us who live in both languages there comes a time when you will inevitably put your foot in your mouth. The truth is that if you only speak one language you save yourself all of this trouble. But then again, you don't get all the benefits of being multilingual and multicultural.

Clearing Up Common Myths About What It Means to Be Bilingual

Nataly Kelly | Posted 11.29.2011

Nataly Kelly

"One can become bilingual at any time during one's life -- as a child, as an adolescent, or as an adult. There is no upper age limit for acquiring a new language and then continuing one's life with two or more languages."

A Test Young Students Are 'Almost Guaranteed' To Fail

Posted 11.19.2011

Most four- and five-year-olds who take an English proficiency exam before kindergarten are bound to fail the test, according to a new study. Taking...

Bilingual Youth: Language Demands of a Globalized Future

Marjorie Faulstich Orellana | Posted 10.17.2011

Marjorie Faulstich Orellana

Who is more limited -- those who are growing up with two languages, both in formation, or those who only have access to one code? Many English Learners serve as "language brokers" for their families -- as well as for their teachers.

Open Letter to American Girl

John Riofrio | Posted 10.16.2011

John Riofrio

We received our first issue of American Girl magazine earlier this summer and, to be frank, I'm concerned.

What the !#$@%*?: Will the Rise of Spanish Redefine Indecency?

Daniel Cubias | Posted 08.26.2011

Daniel Cubias

It stands to reason that as America grows more multilingual, we'll hear more Spanish on the airwaves. And some of that Spanish will be of the naughty variety.

How Do You Say... Travesty?

Pamela Kripke | Posted 05.25.2011

Pamela Kripke

In elementary school, I'd split the day in half. Intensive English-only Language Arts in the morning, math in the afternoon, through fifth grade.