Being bilingual is a force multiplier that resonates beyond an individual and contributes to a vibrant economy, according to a speech given during an in-person and online event by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
The speech, promoting the initiative "Being Bilingual is a Superpower," occurred on November 16th, offering insight into the importance of multilingualism.
According to a news release, Cardona’s Nov. 16 speech focused on promoting "Being Bilingual is a Superpower" initiative led by the department’s office of English language acquisition, or OELA. Cardona shared a perseverance story that backed up his objective by discussing how a bilingual teacher was able to help an undocumented student learn English by emphasizing the power of multilingualism.
This transformation was not just academic but also played a crucial role in shaping future aspirations. He said those interactions with the teacher sparked the student’s journey toward becoming a teacher herself, and an activist knowing more than one language.
The journey of acquiring a new language can often feel daunting, but it is essential to remember its true value. "And I think many of us here know how challenging that can be – how demoralized you feel when you just can’t understand what the other students seem to understand right away," said Cardona. "That feeling when your knowledge of a language other than English suddenly feels like a deficit instead of the asset it is."
Besides overcoming personal obstacles, bilingualism is recognized as advantageous by many listeners. To those listening to the speech, Cardona said that much like him, many of them believe that being bilingual is a superpower.
The benefits of multilingualism are not just personal but also have significant economic implications. "It’s an economic superpower," he said 85 percent of U.S. employers say they rely on Spanish – while others say they rely on Chinese, French or Japanese," he said. "Several studies point to greater incomes and competitiveness for bilingual workers – not surprising when 96 percent of the world’s consumers and two-thirds of its purchasing power actually reside outside U.S. borders."
Beyond economics, the cognitive advantages associated with multilingualism are noteworthy as well. According to his speech, speaking more than two languages (multilingualism) is a cognitive superpower.
"There’s a growing body of research that demonstrates how multilingual people develop higher creativity, problem solving, and greater flexibility and control over decision making," he said. "It almost goes without saying that these are all tremendous assets in your life and career."
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