Who Are Our Students?

Our students come from all over the world, including the U.S. Over 30 languages are currently represented at Bowen. Some of our students were born in this country and have been at Bowen since Kindergarten. Other students were born in the U.S. and came to Massachusetts from another state. Many of our students were born in other countries and have come to the U.S. for a variety of reasons and are here with us from a range of time--some for a few months, some for a year or two, others for several years, and others permanently. However long or short their stay, ELL students receive a warm welcome at Bowen and English language support as needed.

Having more than one language is a strength. Research has shown that students who speak more than one language have higher cognitive functions, great problem-solving skills, and an ability to use information in new ways.

Furthermore, research has shown that students with a rich first language transfer more successfully to a second language. We encourage our families to continue to speak their first language at home with their children. Your first language is the language of your heart; continue to use it even as you and your children develop English.

Watch the video below to learn about some advantages of a bilingual brain.