Bilingual Education
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
BILINGUALISM AT THE HEART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
123 mon école: international schools with a bilingual approach to education
123 mon école welcomes children of all nationalities, creating an international setting that encourages them to embrace the world.
Every year, 123 mon école welcomes more than 30 nationalities and this diversity is celebrated as part of the "International Day".
Children who wish to do so may bring elements representative of their culture and language to class.
Two teachers per class:
one English-speaking and one French-speaking
Children are always guided by two teachers: one native English speaker and one native French speaker.
There are no assistants at 123 mon école; both teachers are competent instructors capable of sharing their knowledge of the Montessori Method.
This also contributes to a team environment based on equality.
Two teachers per class:
one English-speaking and one French-speaking
Children are always guided by two teachers: one native English speaker and one native French speaker.
There are no assistants at 123 mon école; both teachers are competent instructors capable of sharing their knowledge of the Montessori Method.
This also contributes to a team environment based on equality.
One language, one person
According to linguists, to facilitate foreign-language learning, children must associate one adult with one language.
At 123 mon école, our teachers speak their native language throughout the day, and the children quickly pick up the structure of each language.
If your child speaks French to an English-speaking teacher, the teacher will respond in English. The same is true of the French-speaking teacher, who will respond in French if the child speaks to her in English.
This system avoids confusion for children and makes it easier for them to understand how each language system functions.
English is spoken
all day long
Language transmission is rooted in everyday life: in the garden, during lunch, in the classroom, etc.
In this way, transmission is accompanied by gestures used in specific situations that give meaning to words that are still unfamiliar to the children.
Our teachers master the art of repetition, and the children, veritable masters of the learning process, continually impress their parents with their swift progress.
Learning materials
in both languages
Reading and writing materials are available in both English and French in each of our classes. Children start with the language they feel most comfortable with.
English and French : two languages suited to simultaneous learning
According to linguists, some languages, such as English and French, are more suitable for simultaneous learning than others.
Their phonics systems are far enough apart not to create learning conflicts.
Birth to age 6: a critical "sensitive period" for language acquisition
Linguists, like 123 mon école, believe that exposure to foreign languages from an early age is a real opportunity for children.
Children have a unique ability to learn sounds, thanks to their incredible brain plasticity.
Babies as young as 4 weeks old can identify their mother's voice.
Children can differentiate between different languages until about 10 months of age, when they gradually begin to specialize in one language.
Children have an incredible capacity to learn - and not only languages - as they grow, with the period between birth and age 6 being a particularly fertile time.
MCI (Montessori
Center International) Accreditation in 2020
123 mon école invited the MCI to spend a few months in our schools to carry out an audit of our educational practices, the diversity of our materials, our bilingual approach, and our interactions with families.
We are proud of this accreditation, which is the culmination of almost ten years of teaching and learning at 123 mon école.
MCI (Montessori
Center International) Accreditation in 2020
123 mon école invited the MCI to spend a few months in our schools to carry out an audit of our educational practices, the diversity of our materials, our bilingual approach, and our interactions with families.
We are proud of this accreditation, which is the culmination of almost ten years of teaching and learning at 123 mon école.
FAQ
Who sends their children to 123 mon école ?
Expatriate families who would like their children to learn French while continuing to learn English;
French families returning from abroad who would like their children to continue the wonderful experience of English-language immersion;
French families who wish to offer their children immersion in a bilingual setting.
What if my child doesn't speak English?
This is common at 123 mon école. Children who do not speak English may initially approach the French-speaking teacher.
French remains a part of the children's school day.
It flows freely along with English.
If my child does not continue to study English as diligently in elementary school, what is left of this exposure?
If your child takes up English after years without practice, they will have an advantage: familiar sounds stored away in their memory will gradually come back to them. Just like muscle memory, the brain reactivates familiar sounds, and this facilitates pronunciation as well as language comprehension in general.
Would you like to know more about simultaneous language acquisition?
Find out more by tuning in to our webinar on bilingualism, hosted by a linguist.
FAQ
Who sends their children to 123 mon école ?
Expatriate families who would like their children to learn French while continuing to learn English;
French families returning from abroad who would like their children to continue the wonderful experience of English-language immersion;
French families who wish to offer their children immersion in a bilingual setting.
What if my child doesn't speak English?
This is common at 123 mon école. Children who do not speak English may initially approach the French-speaking teacher.
French remains a part of the children's school day.
It flows freely along with English.
If my child does not continue to study English as diligently in elementary school, what is left of this exposure?
If your child takes up English after years without practice, they will have an advantage: familiar sounds stored away in their memory will gradually come back to them. Just like muscle memory, the brain reactivates familiar sounds, and this facilitates pronunciation as well as language comprehension in general.
Would you like to know more about simultaneous language acquisition?
Find out more by tuning in to our webinar on bilingualism, hosted by a linguist.
Our Educational Approach
Pre-enrollment contact form
Learn more about enrollment and our
Wednesday and vacation enrichment programs HERE 🙂
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