Spanish fluency in the U.S. decreases with each generation

The loss or decay of a community’s native language from one generation to the next is not new. But it is cause for concern. Research shows that learning another language has cognitive, competitive and cultural benefits for students. As a result, many educators and parents are emphasizing the benefits of bilingualism in our increasingly global society. Children who are bilingual have cognitive flexibility in thinking and really move through concepts in different ways,” says Hilda Maldonado, executive director of the multilingual and multicultural education department for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). (more)