I’m hoping my little blog isn’t going to feel too neglected these next few weeks. I’m taking a graduate course on elementary foreign language methods. As you can imagine, I’m wildly enthused about every shred of information I’m learning. But graduate work sure is different when you’ve got high school papers to grade, kids to feed, and a house to clean. I’ve been waking up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning just to research in peace. Otherwise the 3 year old quite literally climbs up my back and onto my head as I type. I’m lucky to have ANY coherent thoughts!
Anyway, I’ve spent the last week slaving away and researching a rationale paper for early language learning. I think it might make a nice series here on Foreign Language Fun. Today I’ll make my Case #1: Higher Standardized Test Scores. Here’s an excerpt from my fascinating paper:
Children who receive instruction in two languages typically score higher on standardized tests. Dr. Ellen Bialystok of York University found that bilingual children scored twice as high on language tests than their monolingual peers. (Bialystok 2991) Another researcher, C.M. Saunders, studied the performance of third graders from the Georgia Elementary School Foreign Language Model Program. These students received four years of foreign language instruction five days per week for 30 minutes. Their Iowa Basic math scores were significantly higher than students one year older who had not been exposed to foreign languages. (C.M. Saunder 1998.) Even more compelling is a study in which experimental groups of third graders received 30 minutes of Spanish three times per week for one semester, instead of the equivalent amount of extra math time in the control classes. Even after that short amount of time, one of the Spanish classes outperformed the control classes in math. (Armstrong and Rogers 1997.)
I could go on! There was so much research backing up the standardized testing statement I was amazed. I don’t have my full bibliography published here, but if you’re interested in more detailed information about the sources, feel free to contact me. Next, I’ll give you the good news about just how much long-sequence language learning can positively impact SAT scores.
Ciao 
