The idea behind the program has less to do with the usual talk about a globalizing world and America's need to become a polyglot
nation if it's going to compete effectively with China and other rising economies--though that's part of it--and more to do with the
nimble minds of the boys and girls doing the learning. Research is increasingly showing that the brains of people who know two
or more languages are different from those who know just one--and those differences are all for the better. Multilingual people,
studies show, are better at reasoning, at multitasking, at grasping and reconciling conflicting ideas. They work faster and expend
less energy doing so, and as they age, they retain their cognitive faculties longer, delaying the onset of dementia and even
full-blown Alzheimer's disease.95% of school districts participating up through grade 12. Competition for spots in the program is keen: families apply online
before kids enter kindergarten or first grade--depending on the school district--and the ones who will participate are picked by
lottery. Those who are chosen take half their subjects each day in the new language and the other half in English.