Speaking more than one language is an undeniable asset. Research has shown that bilingualism benefits our cognitive abilities and neurological processes, such as enhanced selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and executive function. Bilingualism also seems to offer some protection from dementia in old age.

Even though people of any age can become bilingual, the younger the child, the easier it is to assimilate the vocabulary and grammar. Up to the age of 6, children have an absorbent mind—the capacity to assimilate all elements in their environment, including language. Beyond 6, the absorbent mind slowly declines and learning a new language will take a lot of effort, especially for adults.

A 2011 British Council research project, Early Language Learning in Europe (ELLiE), demonstrated that learning subjects in two different languages supports academic success in those subjects.

At Les Lilas, children receive a bilingual education from day one, with anglophone and francophone teachers who present our Montessori materials—practical life, sensorial, math, language, and sciences—in their native tongue, helping our students’ success in school while expanding their perspective on the world and their appreciation of other cultures.