A bilingual person is someone who speaks two languages. A person can become bilingual either by acquiring two languages simultaneously as a child or by learning a second language after acquiring the first. Children of immigrants often grow up speaking their native language at home and English at school, but many bilingual Americans speak one language at home and another at work or school. While it is possible to learn a second language after childhood, it becomes more difficult with age and is generally hardest after puberty when the brain structure changes. Children can acquire two languages simultaneously as long as they receive regular exposure to both through speaking with fluent speakers, and do not need special abilities to become bilingual. Being bilingual provides cognitive benefits and a cultural identity for