The Benefits of Bilingualism and
Parent Expo 2026 – Raising a Bilingual Child
On January 24, NJTESOL/NJBE will host the 6th Parent Expo focused on Raising a Bilingual Child. Currently, there is an attack on bilingualism in the United States with the recent declaration of English as the official language. However, science tells us a different story. In Speaking Multiple Languages May Slow Brain Aging, Study Suggests, authors Xinyu Liu & Christos Pliatsikas discuss the many benefits of bilingualism on the aging brain, no matter when the language is learned. In both child and adult learners, “Studies comparing bilinguals and monolinguals have suggested that people who use more than one language might maintain better cognitive skills in later life.” Moving between languages acts as “exercise” for the brain, developing a larger hippocampus.
In the BBC Ideas video, Is Being Bilingual Good for Your Brain, researchers discuss the power of bilingualism in building cognitive reserve, improving our concentration, problem-solving ability, and memory. They identified a lesser-known behavioral effect: the ability to see other people’s perspectives. “Scientists are discovering new upsides to being bilingual all the time, and it’s not just our brains that benefit from learning new languages. Speaking more than one language is very important not only for individuals but also for societies. Learning new languages can open doors to new cultural experiences, life opportunities, different people, different communities, and different ways of seeing the world.”
In light of this knowledge, our 6th Parent Expo will present information to encourage parents to maintain and develop their home languages with presentations from parents who have raised bilingual children and young adults who are bilingual. There will be a presentation on ways that parents can encourage and help their children become fully bilingual. The steps to receiving New Jersey’s Seal of Biliteracy will also be presented so families can understand the process.
Please encourage your Multilingual Learner parents and family members to sign up for NJTESOL/NJBE’s Raising a Bilingual Child Parent Expo. Parent Expo Registration on Eventbrite
Parents of multilingual students join us for the FREE virtual Padres con Poder/Parent Power, NJTESOL/NJBE workshop on Saturday, January 24, from 9:30-12:30! Participants will have access to live presentations and an online library of resources. Topics will focus on the importance of raising a bilingual child. There will be presentations by educators, parents, and young adults who have been raised bilingual, including recent graduates with the Seal of Biliteracy. Recordings of the presentations will be available in our resources.
