<P> An interesting outcome of studies during the early 1990s however confirmed that students who do successfully complete bilingual instruction perform better academically (Collier, 1992; Ramirez, 1992). These students exhibit more cognitive elasticity including a better ability to analyse abstract visual patterns . Students who receive bidirectional bilingual instruction where equal proficiency in both languages is required perform at an even higher level . Examples of such programs include international and multi-national education schools . </P> <P> With emerging markets and expanding international cooperation, business users expect to be able to use software and applications in their own language . Multilingualisation (or "m17n", where "17" stands for 17 omitted letters) of computer systems can be considered part of a continuum between internationalization and localization: </P> <Ul> <Li> A localized system has been adapted or converted for a particular locale (other than the one it was originally developed for), including the language of the user interface, input, and display, and features such as time / date display and currency; but each instance of the system only supports a single locale . </Li> <Li> Multilingualised software supports multiple languages for display and input simultaneously, but generally has a single user interface language . Support for other locale features like time, date, number and currency formats may vary as the system tends towards full internationalisation . Generally a multilingualised system is intended for use in a specific locale, whilst allowing for multilingual content . </Li> <Li> An internationalised system is equipped for use in a range of locales, allowing for the co-existence of several languages and character sets in user interfaces and displays . In particular, a system may not be considered internationalised in the fullest sense unless the interface language is selectable by the user at runtime . </Li> </Ul> <Li> A localized system has been adapted or converted for a particular locale (other than the one it was originally developed for), including the language of the user interface, input, and display, and features such as time / date display and currency; but each instance of the system only supports a single locale . </Li>

Why is multingualism an advantage in the workplace