Growing up multilingual offers more than just the ability to speak multiple languages; it shapes identity and influences a person’s life in many different ways. Growing up multilingual exposes children to different cultures and ways of learning, affecting their experiences in both academic and social settings. While in some cases there are disadvantages to growing up bilingual, overall, the experiences and knowledge gained through speaking multiple languages opens up many opportunities. With this, navigating between different cultures helps embrace a person’s true identity.
My mother was born and raised in the Czech Republic, and, while I was growing up, she only spoke Czech to me. For me, growing up multilingual meant finding myself with a wooden stick in between my teeth learning how to pronounce “ř,” a sound that is found in only one officially recognized language, Czech.
I always knew that my household’s customs were different from those of some of my friends, but I embraced my culture and the traditions that came with it as a nod to my mom and my love for her. Because I was only exposed to Czech, I didn’t learn English until I was about four years old. During the time I was attending preschool, my teachers were worried about me because my limited English skills hindered my ability to interact with my classmates. It was difficult for me to fit in at times as a bilingual child, but, eventually, I did find my place.
Throughout my childhood years, I attended a Czech school on Saturday mornings, where I met so many new people who have helped me connect to my culture on a deeper level. Though there were unique challenges, being multilingual has benefited me as a person and brought so many amazing opportunities and people into my life. Being exposed to two different sides of the world through language shaped me into who I am today.
Many students at Franklin who grew up multilingual have had similar experiences and outcomes. Franklin freshman Doubravka Casteel-Vintrová also grew up with Czech being her first language. When she was younger, Casteel-Vintrová felt as though she didn’t fully belong because kids would make fun of her name and accent. Because of this, she began to go by the nickname “Doubi.” Nickname or not, she still has interactions — like being called “Dubai” by a substitute teacher — where people attempt to apply an English pronunciation to her foreign name.
When she was younger, growing up multilingual especially affected Casteel-Vintrová’s education. It was harder for her to make friends in school because of her disadvantage of not being able to fully speak English until she was six years old. “It was challenging for me to not know as much as my classmates and I felt like I wasn’t as smart as them,” she says. She also explains how she had to be pulled out of classes to attend English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to learn how to read and write. However, being multilingual has benefited her ability to learn other languages — such as Spanish — and it also brought her closer to people who she can relate to. “Being multilingual makes me think about things a little differently from other people.”
Studies by St. Augustine College, Frontiers in Psychology, and more have shown that growing up multilingual has cognitive advantages. In addition, it is beneficial for travel, employment, and speaking with extended family members — all of which can help someone maintain a connection with their culture and history. Casey Lew-Williams, a professor and department chair in the Department of Psychology at Princeton University, says that being raised multilingual can impact a child by enabling them to communicate flexibly with people. “Bilingualism is just one form of learning-related enrichment, like music, sports, or everyday interactions with friends and family.” He explains that there are no cognitive disadvantages to growing up multilingual as long as parents do a thorough job of assessing skills in each language that is spoken.
Melanie López Pérez — a fourth-year Psychology PhD student at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada — also speaks about the various cognitive benefits that multilingual children have. She herself has experienced these benefits, having grown up speaking Spanish and English in Puerto Rico. “The biggest benefit of speaking multiple languages is the ability to communicate and connect with more people from diverse cultures and backgrounds around the world,” López Pérez highlights.
López Pérez conducts research at the Concordia Infant Research Lab, where they study bilingual children’s language development. She explains that children who are raised bilingually will have different language environments than children learning one language. “Bilingual children grow up hearing two languages and so their experiences are divided across the languages they are learning,” López Pérez says. “They naturally monitor what they hear around them and pick [it] up in which language they are being spoken to, which helps them build two language systems.” She explains that beyond personal and cultural connections, speaking multiple languages can also provide economic benefits in the form of more job opportunities and higher pay — multilingual employees usually earn 5-20% more than their unilingual counterparts, according to Workforce Essentials.
For immigrant families, López Pérez explains that “speaking multiple languages helps children stay connected to their heritage language, culture, and family members, such as grandparents, who may only speak that language.”
Tereza Bottman, an ESL teacher at Franklin, grew up speaking Czech, English, and Russian, then later on learned Spanish. She immigrated from the Czech Republic her freshman year of high school, and it proved to be a very difficult time for her as she adjusted to living in a place with a completely different language and culture. However, this opportunity allowed her to have access to different communities because of the languages spoken.
She explains that her experiences as an immigrant influenced her career choices: “I had to adjust to a different place of living and being, and trying to understand the culture while feeling like an outsider is what really influenced my choice of wanting to support other people who also feel that way.” Being multilingual has helped Bottman connect with her cultural heritage, maintain close family relationships, and navigate different cultural environments, allowing her to feel like a part of multiple communities.
Every student has their own experiences. Many students, when asked, had similar experiences of being multilingual producing both advantages and disadvantages in their education. Brianna Quiroz Alvarez, a junior at Franklin, grew up speaking Spanish and English, with Spanish being her first language. Growing up, Spanish was the language of Quiroz Alvarez’s family, culture, and comfort. However, at school, she had to shift to English, which gradually became her dominant language.
This change was very difficult for her to navigate. “I felt like I was straddling between two worlds: One where I was completely myself and another where I had to adapt to fit in.” Not being able to speak the language that everyone else around you is speaking was irritating, and Quiroz Alvarez explains, “There were moments of frustration when I couldn’t express myself as well as I wanted to or when I felt like my Spanish background set me apart from my classmates.”
She also shares that growing up multilingual can lead to a constant fear that you are being judged or that you’re too different from everyone else. Quiroz Alvarez had moments where she hesitated to speak Spanish openly, fearing it would make her stand out in a way she wasn’t comfortable with. Over time, she became comfortable with both languages, but it was a learning process.
During her time in elementary school, Quiroz Alvarez found a club specifically for Spanish-speaking students. “That space allowed me to connect with others who shared similar experiences, and [helped me] feel a sense of belonging that I had struggled to find before,” she says. Although there were struggles, she came out of it stronger, embracing her culture and the advantages and opportunities that come with it. “Being bilingual has helped me develop strong communication skills, adaptability, and a broader perspective on language and culture.” She also says that it has allowed her to connect with more people, whether it’s helping a Spanish-speaking classmate understand something in English or having conversations with family members.
Adara Ramirez-Hall, a junior at Franklin who also grew up speaking Spanish and English, shares how she sees new opportunities arise due to her language skills, explaining, “Being bilingual will help me get certain scholarships for colleges.” Ramirez-Hall continues, saying, “It also makes Spanish class so much easier!” Along with this, she has been able to participate in celebrations and traditions with her family that she wouldn’t be able to without speaking both languages, such as Día de los Muertos, family members’ birthdays, and more!
Franklin sophomore Helen Feng grew up speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Feng moved to the United States when she was seven years old, and was afraid she wouldn’t fit in the environment at school, but her classmates were friendly which helped her adapt and continue to learn English. “Speaking multiple languages has taught me to appreciate different cultures and knowledge.” It allows Feng to connect with others from different backgrounds and keeps her connected to her roots, culture, and family.
Everyone’s experiences are different, but, no matter what those are, each person’s culture is a part of who they are. Speaking multiple languages contributes to a deeper understanding of these different cultures and perspectives, which shapes a person’s identity. There can be disadvantages to growing up multilingual, especially regarding having to adapt to new customs and people; however, overall multilingualism — and especially growing up multilingual — benefits communication skills and opens up both career opportunities and personal growth.
