I spent last semester studying abroad in Barcelona, and one thing that really normalized with me was bilingualism. I find it so strange and ridiculous that the majority of Americans only speak one language. In Barcelona, everyone spoke at least two languages fluently and was proficient in English.
The one concept that will stick with me (although I don't doubt quite a few others will) is bilingualism, and language in general. Seeing the video in lecture that demonstrated the ability for children to retain their universal adaptability by playing with someone who spoke in another language to them once (or was it twice?) a week, shows how easy it is for a child to be bilingual if they start early, and the book didn't even get into all of the benefits of being bilingual!
The case of Genie, which demonstrates language deprivation, I will never forget mainly because of how grim of a story it is, but also because exemplifies the importance of caring, nurturing, and interacting with a child.
Finally, the resilience of language, best demonstrated through the sign languages created in deprived areas such as Africa, is something that amazes me, and will always remain in the back of my mind.
Despite the fact that having a family is something far in the future for me, a lot of things that I learned from this psych class (especially bilingualism and language because I highly value language and communication) will stay with me as I consider how I want to raise my kids, and how go about ensuring they get all of their needs met.
As a non-native speaker, it is fascinating that many people in Barcelona can speak at least 2 languages. I think I will also educate my children early so that they can learn more than 2 languages easily.