Being bilingual is a skill which has become increasingly important in today’s globalized world. Yet, less than 20 percent of people across the country speak a language other than English, according to the United States Census Bureau. Students who speak multiple languages gain a competitive edge in the job market, expand their cultural understanding and improve their cognitive abilities in areas such as problem-solving and multitasking, according to research by Pennsylvania State University.

The Palo Alto School Unified District established a Spanish immersion program in 1995 and a Mandarin immersion program in 2008, which are still being offered today at Escondido and Ohlone elementary schools, respectively. According to census data, these languages are the top two most popular second languages in the country. To better understand the long-term impacts of bilingual education, Verde asked alumni of PAUSD immersion programs and other bilingual students to share their experiences.