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Growing Up with Multiple Languages: THE FLORIMONT APPROACH
separate tracks, they can evolve in response to a student’s progress and areas where further consolidation is needed. This recognises that children do not all become bilingual in the same way or at the same pace. A student may need additional time to develop academic French, for example, while continuing to strengthen their English. One English-speaking family describes discovering the value of this approach: “We naturally assumed that the Bilingual English pathway would be the best choice for our child. We eventually discovered that the French-language pathway allowed our child to develop very strong academic French while continuing to develop English to a high standard.” The aim is to develop the skills children need to learn successfully in both languages and to build a strong, relatively balanced level of proficiency over time, rather than simply ensuring they spend an equal number of hours using each. LEARNING TO THINK IN TWO LANGUAGES At Florimont, students do not simply learn French and English; they increasingly learn through French and English. Both are subjects in their own right, but also languages through which students explore concepts, build knowledge and learn across the curriculum. As they progress, students develop the vocabulary and language skills needed to describe, compare, explain, form hypotheses and present arguments. This allows them to engage with increasingly complex ideas in subjects such as science, history and geography. The distinction matters. A child who
Bilingual education is about more than learning to speak two languages. At Institut Florimont , a flexible approach helps students develop the skills to learn, think and express themselves across languages, while recognising that every child’s journey is different. For families choosing an international school, bilingual education can open up a world of possibilities. Yet what does it really mean for a child to become bilingual? Is it a matter of spending equal time learning in two languages, or is there more to the process? At Institut Florimont in Geneva, bilingualism is understood as a journey that develops throughout a child’s education. Rather than aiming for a strict 50/50 division between French and English, the school focuses on building strong linguistic foundations at each stage, adapting its approach to students’ individual needs. BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS In Florimont’s early years, children alternate between French-language and English-language days, with an emphasis on speaking and listening. Additional support is provided in either language where needed. As students move into primary school, French remains the foundational language for developing essential learning skills, particularly literacy. Children are then encouraged to transfer these skills progressively into English, drawing on what they already know as they develop confidence in both languages. The school’s Bilingual French and Bilingual English pathways also allow for flexibility. Rather than operating as entirely
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SUMMER 2026 | 24
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