Neuroscience of multilingualism

New book by Steve Leveen reveals why Americans are ready to be bilingual

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

America's Bilingual Century: How Americans are giving the gift of bilingualism to themselves, their loved ones, and their countryby Steve Leveen , who describes himself as "an emerging bilingual," puts forward a persuasive argument for a country whose citizens speak English and another language.

Key Points: 
  • America's Bilingual Century: How Americans are giving the gift of bilingualism to themselves, their loved ones, and their countryby Steve Leveen , who describes himself as "an emerging bilingual," puts forward a persuasive argument for a country whose citizens speak English and another language.
  • For others, it might be what Leveen calls their "adopted language," one that they feel an affinity for and make a lifetime commitment to.
  • "At diplomacy, at journalism, at intelligence and military operations, at humanitarian work and in business, we're better when we're bilingual," Leveen says.
  • Leveen spent a year as a fellow in Harvard's Advanced Leadership Institute and another in Stanford's Distinguished Careers Institute as part of his research for the book.