In the spirit of Thanksgiving, ENL's Bilingual Buddies Club explored what it means to be thankful by writing bilingual messages of gratitude in English and their home languages. Students expressed heartfelt thanks to their parents, friends, teachers, and school, crafting messages in six different languages: Spanish, Bengali, Russian, Punjabi, Arabic, and Kurdish. These messages were shared with families, creating a meaningful connection across cultures.
While all Bilingual Buddies are bilingual, and many are biliterate, for some elementary students, this was a new experience of writing in a second language—a skill they embraced with enthusiasm and pride. As Dr. Gigi Luk from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education highlights, "Bilingualism is an experience that shapes our brain for a lifetime." This activity not only celebrated thankfulness but also underscored the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism in our vibrant learning community.
