Immersion Classes

Immersion classes: for a smooth learning of French or English

Joining a bilingual school in France often requires having a certain level of French and English, which is not always the case for children who have lived abroad for years, or since they were born. We provide these students with the best suitable option: our immersion classes offered by EIB Monceau and EIB de La Jonchère.

For one year, students join a class that is focused on intensive language lessons, without losing an academic year. This innovative teaching method offers the best transition for international students, expat families returning to France or French student who speak little English.

Immersion Classes: a Gateway to join the French bilingual Education System

Located near La Défense, EIB de La Jonchère is a bilingual school for students from Petite Section to 9th grade. From nursery school onwards, students benefit from a bilingual education, with 50% of classes in French and 50% in English. In order to meet the requirements of students who do not speak French or English, or lack fluency, the school has set up immersion programmes from CE1 to CM2.

"In French immersion classes at the fourth and fifth grade level, 75% of the lessons are in French. The objective is to enable the pupil to learn the language in order to communicate in a school context and to be autonomous in their learning, both written and oral. The rest of the lessons are in English, in order to address the essential themes of the programme. In this way, at the end of the immersion programme, the student does not lose any school year and very naturally enters the higher academic level” explains Elisabeth Leborgne, Deputy Director at EIB de La Jonchère. Since September 2021, the school also offers English immersion classes for students in CE1 / CE2 who do not speak fluent English, this time with 75% of classes taught in English and 25% in French.
After completing the immersion programmes, students are able to express themselves in an educational context, know how to read and write in French. 

The Best Learning Conditions

At EIB de La Jonchère, everything has been designed to provide children with the best conditions for learning Frenchor English, particularly thanks to small class of 12 15 students at the very most. In addition, classes are taught by native teachers, who are specifically trained to teach French or English as a foreign language. "Teaching small classes is a great opportunity for teachers to provide tailored support, since the students have very different nationalities and backgrounds, and they do not all have the same knowledge when they arrive" adds Marie-Hortense Zeller, Head of School at EIB Monceau.

A Cultural Transition and a Human Experience

In addition to learning the language, immersion classes also help students integrate on a cultural human level.

"In an immersion class, students experience something slightly similar to what they experienced when they were abroad. They don't feel stigmatised since they are surrounded by other children with similar backgrounds, different nationalities and languages. Students in immersion classes all know each other and they are like a big family! They are surrounded by a comforting environment where they can learn effectively. This is a great opportunity to promote transition towards the French system. It also reassures parents who are worried about returning to France” concludes Marie-Hortense Zeller.

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