ABSTRACT
In some locations in the US, there are few adults who speak a language other than English and few children who have access to language instruction in school. In other locations, there is greater linguistic diversity, with many adults who speak a language other than English in the home and many children who are heritage speakers of a home language at the point when they enter school. Contrary to the view in the US that bilingualism should be the exception rather than the rule, recent studies provide strong evidence that learning and using two languages creates benefits for individuals across the lifespan. This chapter illustrates the contexts and consequences of bilingualism for individuals who are monolingual speakers of English and acquire a second language beyond childhood, and for those who acquire English as a second language in early childhood. Such findings on the social and cognitive consequences of bilingualism make a strong case for language study in the US.
