The Times March 5, 2001

Research shows teaching children two or more languages at an early age is beneficial Ellen Bialystok, who has carried out 20 years of research in Canada into how language affects learning in young children, has found that children who are bilingual from infancy develop problem-solving skills earlier than those who speak only one language, and also comprehend written languages faster and learn to read more easily. In her reading tests bilingual children were twice as quick to recognise words without picture aids as they learn quicker that the written form carries the meaning.