This is a question that comes up often when we meet with families for registrations. How is language learning done in our school? English, Spanish, French Sign Language – LSF, a whole program!
What is a bilingual school?
First of all, we need to clarify one point. For the moment we are not what can be called a bilingual school, like many other Montessori schools. A bilingual school means that there is in the atmosphere or the class, a person who speaks all the time in a language other than French, often English.
The advantage of having a person who constantly speaks in a foreign language in the mood is that children get used to hearing that language. This does not make small English speakers in a few months. Children who are bilingual at 3 or 4 years old have grown up hearing 2 or 3 languages in their families.
Language learning in our school
Language learning in our school is done in a fun way. We regularly offer children language workshops, in the form of nursery rhymes, songs or with nomenclature cards allowing them to assimilate vocabulary.
We do not stop at English by the way, Spanish is very present in our atmosphere, because we welcomed a child this year who is bilingual Spanish-speaking. Being of Spanish origin myself, I was able to gain his trust by communicating with him regularly in Spanish. Lunch time is also his favorite time to teach his friends a few words of Spanish, always in relation to the things around us (colors, objects, situations).
I also present children with nursery rhymes in French Sign Language – LSF, and I have introduced some words from the common vocabulary that I use daily and that some children are starting to assimilate, as thank you, please, where…
What about language learning for adults?
For 6-12 year olds, the position of educator for this atmosphere is not yet filled, but one of the selection criteria is precisely that this person is able to provide English (or other languages) courses in the form of a workshop, until we can recruit an English-speaking person in the atmosphere.
We will continue to raise children's awareness of French Sign Language regardless of their age, because we believe it is a way to open their minds to disability.
Will the school ever become bilingual?
As you have understood, for us languages are an integral part of the indispensable teachings of a school. In our future project, we plan to expand our teaching team with English-speaking people, possibly Spanish-speaking and we would like to be able in a few years to offer a trilingual alternative in LSF to be able to welcome deaf or hard of hearing children.
Registrations still in progress
Please note that places are still available to register your children for September 2019. Thanks to the form on the site, you can make a registration request. Do not hesitate to inquire for registrations and to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcoleMontessoriMontpellier34