Final answer:
It is true that children who can read in their native language are likely to transfer those skills when learning a new language. Bilingual education supports better academic progress and cognitive development, and it provides professional advantages in fields that value bilingual skills.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether children who can read in their native language will most likely be able to transfer those skills when learning a new language, such as when seven-year-old Anna brings her reading skills from Mexico to a second-grade classroom in the United States. This statement is true, as research has shown that literacy skills in a first language can help in the acquisition of a second language. Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University and other research indicate that bilingual education programs, where instruction is offered in both the student's native language and English, can have significant benefits. They found that students taught in both their native tongue and English tend to make better progress in learning than those taught only in English.
Moreover, human babies are biologically equipped to learn any language through exposure, further suggesting that a child like Anna, who is already literate in her native language, would have the cognitive ability to learn to read in another language more easily. Additionally, bilingualism is advantageous in many professional fields, such as law enforcement, which seeks bilingual employees. Lucy, who was once a student learning English, became fluent in English and Spanish and leveraged her bilingual skills for professional success.
Finally, bilingual education is shown to support students in maintaining their cultural identity while they acquire a new language, offering an inclusive educational environment that nurtures proficiency in multiple languages.