The missing link between multilingualism and education

Abstract

It is not a novelty that the term multilingualism has acquired a powerful influence in the actual world and society through the recent years. Nowadays, multilingualism has become a daily issue of debate in the educational field that invades our newspapers, magazines and it is the main focus of different investigations. Multilingualism seems to have a very positive effect on children’s intellect since it enhances a better mental development. Learning three or more languages at the same time does not mean that the child can get confused between them. On the contrary, children can learn from an early age to use the languages in an effective manner plus obtaining a high level of concentration. In Spain, more and more schools are implementing multilingual programs, and as a consequence, many parents are trying hard to get their children enrolled in these programs which are very trendy in the educational field and social community. But to what extent are parents aware about the benefits and cons of multilingualism? Are they guided by society trends when enrolling their children in multilingual programs?