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child’s home language was an asset on which to build their multilingualism.” For families, this is an important message: maintaining a home language can be part of a child’s multilingual development, rather than something that competes with learning French or English. A PATHWAY SHAPED AROUND EACH CHILD There is no single profile of a bilingual learner. Some children arrive fluent in French and new to English; others speak English confidently but need to strengthen their French. Some are already bilingual, while others are learning both languages alongside a third language spoken at home. Whatever the case may be, Florimont offers a dedicated team of specialists that work with each family individually to build the most appropriate linguistic journey for their child. Florimont responds through regular assessment, flexible pathways and targeted support. English-language provision includes proficiency groups and support for the academic language needed across different subjects. For students developing their French, Français Langue de Scolarisation (FLSco) focuses on the language of schooling: understanding instructions, reading academic texts, reasoning in mathematics and explaining ideas clearly.
As Caroline Gorin, Bilingualism/ Multilingualism Coordinator at Florimont, explains: “For me, multilingual education at Florimont starts with a strong anchor in French. French is part of the school’s history, but it also gives our students the language they need to connect with the community around them. From there, our aim is not to fit every child into the same definition of bilingualism, but to build on the languages they already have, understand what they need next, and help them use their full linguistic repertoire to learn, think and grow.”
Teachers across subjects contribute to this work, supported by professional development in approaches that make learning accessible to students studying through an additional language. Families are also involved in discussions about their children’s linguistic development and future educational plans. Ultimately, Florimont’s approach looks beyond fluency in French and English alone, recognising that multilingual education is about building on each child’s linguistic strengths and preparing them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SUMMER 2026 | 26
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