Elvin speaks Spanish with his grandmother and English with everyone else at home,but he is starting school and needs to use English at school.Based on research about bilingualism,what should Elvin be encouraged to do about developing skills in both languages?
A)Develop English only.Bilingual students tend to use code-switching,an indication of low-level language skills.
B)Speak English only.Avoid speaking Spanish.The dual languages will interfere with his ability to read and write English correctly.
C)Focus on developing English and teach his grandmother to speak English.
D)Keep developing skills in both languages.Being bilingual increases cognitive abilities.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research shows that being bilingual can actually increase cognitive abilities and that developing skills in both languages has many benefits. Elvin should continue to speak Spanish with his grandmother and also work on developing his English skills for school. It is not necessary to teach his grandmother English, although that could be an option if they both want to learn each other's language. It is also not necessary for Elvin to focus solely on English or avoid speaking Spanish altogether, as this can actually hinder his language development.

Elvin Speaks Spanish with His Grandmother and English with Everyone