Why is bilingual education becoming increasingly popular with families in Paris?

Once relatively uncommon, bilingual education is no longer a trend: it has become a genuine educational choice for an increasing number of Parisian families. 

As Madame Figaro points out, "in Paris and the Île-de-France region, a small number of highly sought-after schools offer fully bilingual education from nursery. The aim os to give children the best possible assets for their future - linguistically, culturally and socially." 

In an article published in January 2026, the magazine shines a light on schools where pupils naturally move between French and English from the age of three — and notably mentions EIB Paris among them. 

This recognition gives us the opportunity to revisit a key question: why has early bilingualism become such a major asset in pupils' academic and personal development? 

Bilingual education: beyond language learning 

Contrary to popular belief, a bilingual school is not a place where a language is simply taught as an additional subject. It is an environment in which language becomes a natural tool for thinking, communicating, and building knowledge.

At EIB, teaching is shared between our two languages of instruction, French and English. Depending on the school and the pathway chosenn the proportion of teaching delivered in English may exceed 50%. 

Core subjects (science, history, mathematics and literature) are taught in both languages by native and/or fully bilingual teachers. 

As Jean-Xavier Moreau, Director of the EIB Group, explains in Madame Figaro: 

"From nursery onwards, pupils think in several languages. This enables them to develop critical thinking skills and to better understand people from different cultural backgrounds." 

As a result, our pupils acquire key skills at an early stage: 

• genuine linguistic fluency, 

• strong cognitive flexibility, 

• and a natural ability to shift effortlessly between different cultural frameworks. 

Educating global citizens from an early age 

One of the aspects highlighted in Madame Figaro is the cultural diversity found in bilingual schools. At EIB Paris, nearly 70 nationalities coexist across our campuses. 

Far from being merely symbolic, this diversity is embedded in everyday teaching through intercultural initiatives, key moments in the school calendar, and the development of essential human skills such as openness, tolerance, adaptability and empathy. 

In a globalised world, these competencies are now just as important as academic achievement. 

Bilingualism: a driver of success 

Numerous studies have shown that bilingualism acts as a cognitive accelerator. It stimulates brain plasticity, sharpens abstract thinking, strengthens problem-solving skills and enhances working memory. 

These benefits are clearly visible in our classrooms. Bilingual pupils demonstrate greater concentration, stronger intellectual agility and a natural ease in dealing with complex reasoning. 

This reality is also reflected in families’ experiences. As one parent told Madame Figaro: 

"In just two months, my son in his final year of nursery has developed a perfect understanding of English. At five years old, he moves from one language to the other."

At EIB Paris, this dynamic goes even further: the Singapore Maths method develops mathematical rigour, learning Mandarin from primary school opens up new cultural perspectives, and the influence of Anglo-Saxon teaching approaches fosters curiosity and independence. 

A naturally international pathway 

Bilingual education also opens up unique academic opportunities, both in France and abroad. Each year, a significant proportion of pupils from EIB Étoile bilingual secondary school go on to study at international universities, bilingual or bi-national programmes, and centres of excellence within leading French and international institutions. 

As Madame Figaro notes, "each year, between 40% and 50% of our final-year pupils continue their studies abroad."

For these students, bilingualism becomes a decisive advantage in university applications, a genuine passport to international mobility and a major asset in the global job market. 

Media recognition that reinforces our mission 

This feature in Madame Figaro recognises the work carried out for over 70 years across EIB Paris schools: offering an ambitious education, entred on pupils and focused on the future. 

Beyond visibility, it highlights a core belief that guides us every day: the school of tomorrow will be multilingual, intercultural and open to the world. 

Find out more 

We invite you to read the full Madame Figaro article, available to download below, and to discover our educational approach across our different campuses in Paris.

Read the article

Whether you are looking for a school for your child or supporting families in their search (relocation agencies, mobility and HR professionals, educational partners, etc.), we would be delighted to speak with you and explore your needs together. 

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