Photo: Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff.
Johendy De La Cruz Arias (right), a senior at Margarita Muniz Academy, looked up at his father Jonathan Arias, who he said was the driving force behind his decision to earn the Seal of Biliteracy at Boston Public Schools.
There was a time when US schools try to force students to stop using their native tongue and focus on English. Other countries did the same to push the dominant language.
But how much better to celebrate having two languages! If nothing else, it’s a clearly marketable skill.
‘A new language develops a new cognitive system in your brain,’
Thai Theodoro writes at the Boston Globe, “A record number of Boston students were recognized this year for speaking two or more languages, a milestone that includes both English native speakers learning a second language and immigrant children, mostly Spanish speakers, learning English. ..
“ ‘A new language develops a new cognitive system in your brain,’ said Cecilia Soriano, director of development at the Margarita Muñiz Academy. ‘You’re twice as able to deal with things because you’ve got two systems up in your brain that are able to help you understand the world around you.’
“For Johendy De La Cruz Arias, a senior at Margarita Muñiz Academy, his Dominican father was the driving force behind his decision to earn a Seal of Biliteracy.
“De La Cruz Arias is a second-generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic, and will attend Simmons University, becoming the first in his family to attend college. When he started schooling, he didn’t speak English.
“But I kept learning it, practicing with my dad and my brothers at the house,” he said. ‘[Dad] brought us here for a better future, and I feel proud of myself that I’m making his wish come true.’
“Most recent data, from 2024, shows English learners accounted for 21 percent of Massachusetts seal recipients, according to the 2024 National Seal of Biliteracy Report for 2022-2023 Academic Year.
“To earn a Seal of Biliteracy, students must meet local graduation requirements, demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting state standards on the English Language Arts Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, and satisfy world language proficiency requirements through a state-approved assessment.
“Manicka Fils-Aime, a senior at New Mission High School who was born in Haiti, achieved a seal in Haitian Creole and English.
“ ‘Achieving the seal means that I’m capable of making something good of myself,’ said Fils-Aime.
“The growth in the number of multilingual students also follows Boston Public Schools’ adoption of MassCore in 2021, which established world language coursework as part of the district’s graduation requirements for the class of 2026, and beyond. …
“Spanish accounted for the largest share of Seal of Biliteracy recipients this year, with 327 certified students. Chinese followed with 37 recipients, while Haitian Creole and Portuguese were nearly tied with 30 and 29 recipients, respectively.
“When immigrant children study their home language at school, they feel more connected, perform better academically and are more likely to graduate, said Maria Carreira, executive director of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
“ ‘All of this contributes to students who are ultimately better prepared to participate in what is an increasingly diverse society with different people in the United States and across the world,’ Carreira said.
“At New Mission High School in Hyde Park, the majority of the 42 students who earned a Seal of Biliteracy did so in their native, non-English language, said Karen Loughran, the co-head of the school.
“Most of the seals were from students who speak Spanish and Haitian Creole, with some Somali, Portuguese, Vietnamese, French, and Russian.
” ‘Our students are starting to feel pride in themselves every day,’ said Kareem Cutler, co-head of the school. ‘Our community as a whole comes around these students to support them, celebrate them, help them acknowledge the importance of getting the Seal of Biliteracy.’ “
More at the Globe, here. Older people are learning (almost too late) that being bilingual is good for their brains, too. I hope it’s not too late! I’m trying to learn Swedish.
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