The Effects of Multilingualism on Reading Speed

Abstract

Multilingualism is the ability to use several languages with equal fluency by an individual. It has been seen to have various effects on one’s academic performance which is connected to reading speed. Through a two-part, mixed-method approach that consisted of a survey related to multilingualism and true experiment (an online reading speed quiz), data was collected from adults ages 30-59 in the United States. Both monolinguals and multilinguals participated in order to determine the effects multilingualism has on reading speed. Upon analyzing the reading speed times of the participants, it was found that multilingualism does not have a significant impact on individuals’ reading speed when compared to monolinguals. This study demonstrates that multilingualism may not be the most critical factor affecting academic performance. Among broader implications, a change in education systems to be geared toward advancing reading speed could be highly beneficial.