The Effect of Bilingualism on Children's Creative Thinking of Cognitive Functioning: Evidence from Chinese Native Speaker

Abstract

This essay investigates the impact of bilingualism, specifically learning English as a second language, on the creative thinking of Chinese-speaking children. Bilingualism's influence on cognitive functioning, particularly creative thinking, has been widely debated, with studies showing varying results. The study includes Chinese monolinguals and Chinese-English bilinguals from different age groups, with the aim of exploring potential differences in creative thinking between the two groups. To assess creative thinking, a battery of standardized creativity tests adapted to the Chinese language and culture is used, including linguistic, figural, and ideational tasks. The results are analyzed using a mixed-method approach, considering the effects of bilingualism, age-related changes, and task-specific differences. Expected outcomes may include identifying a bilingual advantage in certain aspects of creative thinking, age-related variations in creative thinking skills, and task-specific disparities. This research provides insights into the complex relationship between bilingualism, cognitive functioning, and creative thinking, particularly within the context of Chinese-speaking children. The findings have implications for educational practices, curriculum development, and language learning strategies, highlighting the importance of considering language and culture when studying the impact of bilingualism on cognitive functioning and creative thinking. This study emphasizes the significance of investigating the effects of specific language pairs on cognition and creative thinking, shedding light on the potential advantages and challenges associated with bilingualism.