A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF MULTILINGUALISM ON THE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF PREPARATORY STAGE STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF NCF-SE 2023

Abstract

"Multilingualism from an early age has been shown to enrich a child’s overall development in many meaningful ways. Research in child development and education suggests that learning more than one language doesn’t confuse young learners—in fact, it benefits them. Studies in cognitive science show that children who grow up speaking multiple languages often develop stronger attention skills and greater mental flexibility. Instead of struggling, they actually become better at switching between tasks and staying focused. In the classroom, young bilingual or multilingual children actively participate in reading, speaking, and play, naturally illustrating how learning in multiple languages can become part of a joyful and engaging learning environment. Far from being a disadvantage, this early exposure to more than one language helps children grow into well-rounded individuals. They not only gain academic strengths—like the ability to read and write in more than one language—but also build a deeper sense of cultural identity and social confidence."