Singer Shakira is urging Latin students to become bilingual in order to find success in the US.

The 37-year-old is part of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence of Hispanics, a team that aims to reduce or eliminate disparities in education, health and wealth among the Latin population in the US.

In a recent interview with website MediaPlanet, Shakira spoke about her work with the initiative and her passion for proper education for the youth, reports contactmusic.com.

"Latin students need to be empowered for academic success, starting from early education. It is time to get stronger in our commitment to reduce inequity by expanding educational opportunities for all...

`Being bilingual is a competitive business advantage. Particularly for Hispanic students, which make up the majority of the English learner population, limited English proficiency in the early years is associated with low achievement and other poor school outcomes,` she said.

Added Shakira: "Language opens doors to other cultures in a way that nothing else does, except music. They are the two most universal things we share as humans, and both have allowed me to connect with people around the world in a way I don't know that I ever could have imagined as a young girl just starting out."