Benefits
There are many advantages to being a B3 scholar. Learn about some of the many benefits below
- In the Rio Grande Valley approximately 91.9% of the population is Hispanic and approximately 77.2% speak Spanish. B3 scholars are prepared to serve and contribute to our local community in many important ways.
- At the same time, bilingual students are prepared for various opportunities presented in our increasingly interconnected world, expanding their job opportunities and making them more competitive in the job market.
- Understanding math concepts and solving word problems
- Using logic
- Focusing, remembering, and making decisions
- Thinking about language
- Learning other languages
- Problem-solving skills
- Thinking more creatively
- Being productive
- Multitasking
- Processing information
- Reading
- Abstract thought
- Blocking out irrelevant information
- Improves overall brain function and health
- Increases grey matter and density
- Improves working memory
- Strengthens connections between neurons
- Slows cognitive decline
- Shields individuals from the effects of dementia
- Enhanced cultural awareness
- Strong self-perception
- Sense of belonging
- Strong ties with their family, culture, and community
- Heightened empathy
- More open-minded outlook
- Better social skills
- More prosocial behaviors
- Better communication and conversational skills
- More socially maturity]
- Heightened popularity
- Better school performance
- Higher test scores
- Better attendance
- Fewer behavioral problems
- Higher parent engagement
- Better academic performance in reading, math, and science than peers in traditional classes
- Heightened cognitive advantages compared to bilinguals who don’t take bilingual courses
- Increased sense of belonging and parent involvement as they "tend to feel that their home language is heard and valued."
- Increase your competitiveness
- Increase your salary
- Expand job opportunities
- Make your resume stand out
- Increase your job interviews
- Increase your job offers
- Result in a promotion
- The US Census Bureau projects that by 2060, 30% of the U.S. census will be comprised of Hispanic individuals, 82% of whom speak fluently both English and Spanish
- Demand for bilingual employees more than doubled between 2010 and 2015 , and this trend is expected to continue.
- Since 2020, there has been a 30% increase in bilingual remote jobs
- 9 out of 10 employers rely on employees who can speak languages other than English
- 56% employers report that their demand for bi/multilingual speakers will increase in the next 5 years
- 1 in 3 employers report a language skills gap
- 1 in 4 employers has lost business due to a lack of foreign language skills
- 85% of employers report that Spanish is the most in-demand language for their business
- 42% of employers report a shortage of employees who speak Spanish.
- Currently, there are 630,000 job postings aimed at bilingual workers.
- Bilingual employees earn 5-20% higher salaries.
- College graduates who speak two languages already make an average of 2% more than those who do not.
- Over time, the extra earnings could mean an additional $67,000 in your retirement account.
- Bilinguals in the US earn on average $7000 more per year or 5-20% more per hour because they can speak another language.
- Knowing a second language may allot to an additional $128,000 over a 40-year career.
