Bilingual Thinking: An Analysis of The Effects of Bilingual Education on Children’s Cognitive Development

Abstract

The impact of bilingual education on children has gained increasing attention due to the development of society, economy, and international exchange. Numerous studies on this topic have emerged domestically and internationally since the beginning of the century. Our group aims to summarize the impact of bilingual education on children’s cognitive abilities through a literature review. We will consider children’s language ability, memory and attention development, social skills, and critical thinking. We will then summarize and discuss the factors, processes, and reasons influencing bilingual education. Based on the literature reviewed, this text discusses the limitations of bilingual education about cultural differences, teacher training, and educational resources. Additionally, it envisions the prospects for the development of bilingual education through research on teaching models and the development of educational resources.