Language Study and Student Outcomes

I have been teaching Spanish to elementary students for over 25 years. During that time, the percentage of elementary schools in the U.S. offering foreign language instruction declined. In the mid 90’s it was about 30%. By 2015 it was lower than 20%. This is sad not only from a general educational perspective, but it’s also sad from an outcome perspective.

Elementary school administrators are focused on boosting student outcomes. You want students to excel in core content areas. You want learners to perform better on standardized tests. You want children to demonstrate cultural competence in a diverse society. And you want to see graduates better equipped to enter the increasingly competitive global job market.

The crazy thing is that one of the most effective and easy-to-implement solutions for this exists—world language education at the elementary level. The research on the benefits of language learning has been available for a long time. You can improve student outcomes with an effective Spanish curriculum for elementary students. Let’s take a look at how.

Increase Cognitive Skills

Studies have shown that children who learn a second language at an early age show stronger development in many of the skills that fall under the umbrella of executive function. A lot of this has to do with the cognitive flexibility that children gain when they learn a second language. Young language learners become adept at switching between languages. This increases their ability to compare and contrast. They become more advanced creative thinkers and problem solvers.

This video does a great job outlining cognitive and other benefits of language learning.

The cognitive flexibility students gain with language learning enables them to more readily develop a set of skills that is closely linked to executive function such as:

1. Working Memory & Problem-Solving

• Working memory allows children to hold and manipulate information while solving problems.
• Example: A child solving a math word problem needs to remember key details while determining the solution.

2. Adaptability

• Cognitive flexibility helps children adjust their thinking when faced with new challenges.
• Example: If a strategy doesn’t work, a child with strong executive function can shift to a different approach.

3. Inhibitory Control & Decision-Making

• Inhibitory control prevents impulsive responses, helping children think through problems before acting.
• Example: Instead of blurting out an answer, a child evaluates different options and selects the best one.

4. Planning & Organization

• Effective problem-solving requires planning steps toward a solution.
• Example: When assembling a puzzle, a child plans which pieces to connect first rather than trying random ones.

5. Self-Monitoring & Reflection

• Self-monitoring allows children to assess whether their solution is working and make adjustments if needed.
• Example: While writing a story, a child might realize a character’s actions don’t make sense and revise the plot.

Why This Matters

Children with strong executive function skills are better at breaking down complex problems, adjusting to setbacks, and making thoughtful decisions. These skills are crucial for academic success, social interactions, and overall emotional well-being.

It’s amazing to think that you can give your students the opportunity to realize these cognitive benefits just by implementing a comprehensive and effective Spanish curriculum at the elementary level.

Improve Academic Achievement

Aside from the cognitive benefits of early language learning, research shows that language learning correlates to higher academic achievement in other content areas.

When children in the U.S. learn a second language, they become more aware of the grammar and syntax of that language. This in turn increase their awareness and knowledge of the grammar and syntax of English. This leads to higher achievement in the English language arts including speaking, reading, and writing.

Students of foreign languages also develop an understanding of geographical and cultural perspectives that enhances learning in other classes such as social studies, science, art and music.

Surprisingly, research consistently shows that early language learning contributes to higher academic achievement in math. The reasons for this include:

1. Improved Executive Function and Working Memory

• Learning a second language enhances working memory, which is crucial for solving multi-step math problems.
• Bilingual children develop stronger executive function, allowing them to focus, switch between tasks, and retain numerical information more effectively.

2. Enhanced Pattern Recognition and Logical Thinking

• Language learning involves recognizing patterns in sentence structure and grammar, which parallels the pattern recognition required in math.
• Exposure to multiple language structures strengthens logical reasoning skills, aiding in algebra, sequences, and geometry.

3. Strengthened Problem-Solving Abilities

• Multilingual learners are more cognitively flexible, meaning they can approach math problems from different perspectives and adapt strategies.
• Their ability to switch between languages transfers to mental flexibility in applying different math concepts.

4. Better Symbolic Representation and Number Sense

• Learning new vocabulary and syntax helps children understand abstract symbols—a skill directly applicable to mathematical symbols and equations.
• Studies show that bilingual children have an advantage in understanding numerical magnitude, which supports arithmetic and problem-solving.

5. Greater Metalinguistic Awareness and Conceptual Thinking

• Metalinguistic awareness (the ability to think about language as a system) enhances a child’s ability to grasp mathematical concepts like place value, fractions, and proportional reasoning.
• Early exposure to different grammatical structures helps with conceptualizing math relationships, such as the idea of equivalence in equations.

It’s Not Just Communication

Early language learning doesn’t just improve communication skills—it enhances core cognitive abilities that are fundamental to math success. This explains why bilingual and multilingual students often excel in STEM fields later in life.

Perform Better on Standardized Tests

Research indicates a positive correlation between early language learning and higher achievement on standardized test scores. This is due not only to the enhanced cognitive skills and higher academic achievement already discussed, but it is also due to improved verbal proficiency. Students studying foreign languages often exhibit superior verbal skills, contributing to higher scores on standardized tests’ verbal sections.

Conclusion

The benefits of early language learning extend far beyond what you may think. Cognitive benefits lead children to develop stronger executive function skills. Academic benefits lead students to higher achievement in other content areas and standardized tests.

All of these benefits point to better outcomes for students. Implementing Spanish curriculum for elementary students is one of the best ways to realize these benefits. You end up giving students the advantage they need to become ready for college, career, and life.