It is used by over eighty million people of the world and has a vibrant and rich literature. This would be reason enough to learn it. Many well-meaning but unilingual teachers in Canada in the 1970s advised and recommended the exclusive use of English at home by all ethnic families. Fortunately, further studies have proven the result to be exactly opposite. A variety of methods are used for learning Bengali.
Many children visit India regularly and stay for long periods of time.
Many families use Bengali exclusively at home. Over three hundred children study Bengali under the Heritage Language programmes offered in five schools in and around Toronto. In addition to these formal Bengali language classes, many cultural, social, literary and religious organizations initiate, encourage and co-ordinate various activities where the children have opportunities to participate and use the Bengali language. Bengali classes are offered by the North York, Etobicoke, Toronto and Peel Boards of Education under the Heritage Language Programme. In all, over two hundred students, eight teachers, some aides, and numerous parent volunteers are involved.