The Benefits of Being Multilingual: What Research Shows

As someone who speaks two languages, this benefit is very personal to me. Being multilingual has allowed me to communicate with my grandparents, who do not speak English. Those relationships, conversations, and connections would not have been possible without language and that is something I value deeply.

Speaking more than one language is more than just a communication skill. It’s a powerful advantage that supports children’s development in many ways. Research continues to show that being multilingual offers cognitive, social, and emotional benefits, starting in early childhood and continuing across the lifespan.

What Research Tells Us About Multilingualism

Research consistently shows that children who grow up with two or more languages:

• Are not confused by multiple languages

• Do not experience language delays because of multilingual exposure

• Can successfully learn and separate multiple languages

• Benefit from long-term brain and learning advantages

  
  

If a child has speech or language difficulties, they will appear across all languages, not because they are learning more than one.

Cognitive and Learning Benefits

Multilingual children often develop strong skills in:

• Attention and focus

• Flexible thinking and problem-solving

• Learning additional languages later in life

• Understanding how language works

Even if vocabulary is spread across languages, a child’s total language knowledge is often equal to or greater than that of monolingual peers.

Social, Emotional, and Cultural Benefits

Language is deeply connected to relationships and identity. Being multilingual allows children to:

• Communicate with extended family members

• Maintain cultural traditions and connections

• Feel a sense of belonging across generations

• Build pride in who they are

Long-Term Brain Benefits

Research also suggests that multilingualism supports long-term brain health by strengthening cognitive reserve and may help protect against age-related cognitive decline later in life. While this research focuses on adults, it highlights the lifelong impact of multilingual experiences.

How Parents Can Support Multilingual Development

• Use your home language(s) with confidence

• Provide regular, meaningful exposure through daily routines, play, books, and conversation

• Avoid pressure to limit language use to only one language

• Celebrate all attempts to communicate in any language