Bilingualism Matters @Poznań

The center’s goal is to disseminate research findings about multilingualism and multilingual education to the general public and to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and the public sector in this area. The team members have been engaged for many years in interdisciplinary research on bilingualism and multilingualism and in promoting their findings both locally and internationally. Furthermore, we aim to promote knowledge about linguistic diversity in Poland and beyond, and to support the maintenance of minority languages. Our activities are designed to support informed decisions regarding language use and language learning, as well as to advocate for policies that support these practices in education.

Bilingualism Matters @Poznań collaborates with parents, teachers, policymakers, and employers. We especially reach out to parents who wish to raise their children bilingually; to teachers and school principals running bilingual programs; to municipal and educational authorities; and to the general public.

The offer of Bilingualism Matters @Poznań includes:

• Organizing training sessions and workshops on bi/multilingualism and language learning,
• Supporting projects related to the implementation of language teaching,
• Raising awareness among teachers, parents, and children about the benefits of bilingualism,
• Answering questions about raising bilingual children,
• Providing access to information and resources through our website and social media channels.

Research has shown that bilingualism is beneficial for children’s development and their future. Children exposed to different languages become more aware of different cultures, people, and perspectives. The ability to communicate in multiple languages enhances empathy, supports cognitive development and concentration, and facilitates learning additional languages. Recent studies also suggest that learning another language may have lifelong benefits, such as delaying the onset of dementia symptoms and slowing cognitive aging. This applies even to people who begin learning a second language later in life. Bilingualism Matters @Poznań offers advice on how to best take advantage of the unique opportunity of growing up in a multilingual environment.

Aims:

• We do research and disseminate knowledge about bi/multilingualism and multiculturalism.
• We increase general awareness about the benefits and challenges posed by bi/multilingualism.
• We encourage policies and practices that promote linguistic diversity and bi/multilingual schooling.

Visit http://bm.amu.edu.pl/index_en.html for more information on bilingualism/multilingualism and the research we conduct in this field.