Montessori Bilingual School 3 12 Geneva
Bilingualism in Montessori Schools 3 12
Montessori School 3 12 is bilingual French-English. Two trained educators are present in the classroom throughout the day; one is a native French speaker and the other a native English speaker. We have opted for early and simultaneous bilingualism, or consecutive bilingualism depending on the child’s abilities upon arrival at the school.
By living in the classroom, the child grows up speaking two languages; language development is bilingual . Learning to read and write follows the same principle: the child learns to read in their dominant language and then transfers their skills to the other language. In the case of fully bilingual children, the choice of the language for introducing reading is made in consultation with the parents.
We adapt to children who are non-native French speakers (those who arrive speaking neither French nor English) by allowing a longer period for oral vocabulary acquisition. To implement these principles of early simultaneous or consecutive bilingualism, classroom materials are provided in both French and English.
We have chosen to pursue, in a way that is unprecedented in Geneva , the same principles of early bilingualism within the classes welcoming the 6-12 year old groups: two mother tongue teachers are present at the same time in the class with the principle of “one member of the teaching staff – one language”.
After 6 years , the language acquisition mechanism is replaced by more general cognitive mechanisms, active for all problem-solving tasks. Living daily in a bilingual group (the role of socialization), following a presentation in French, then another or the same one in English, but also the formal learning of each of the two languages (vocabulary, grammar, syntax, etymology, written production, literature, interpretive reading, production of theatrical works) are assets for strong bilingualism.
In accordance with the Plan d’Etudes Romand (Romand Curriculum), German must be introduced from 5th grade (age 8) until 8th grade. At Montessori School 3-12, children participate in an introduction to German from the age of 6. A native German-speaking teacher, trained in the AMI Montessori method, provides this differentiated instruction, tailored to the students’ abilities and/or by class section. She is present one day a week in each of the 6-9 and 9-12 classes and uses Montessori materials in German.
Bilingualism has proven cognitive advantages . Compared to monolingual children, bilingual children find it easier to concentrate and avoid distractions. They have more creative, flexible, and open-minded thinking .
A pedagogy based on several languages offers students a broad opening to the world and helps them, based on Montessori principles, to develop a culture that respects diversity.