Language Immersion

Hello! Bonjour! Hallo! 你好 iHola!

Language immersion is more than learning another language. French International uses language as a lens to help students understand other cultures, think with a global perspective, and navigate the broader world around us.

As the longest-established language immersion school in Portland, French International builds this foundation in Maternelle and Lower School and expands upon it in the Middle School, developing global citizens with core values to help create a better and more peaceful world.

Long-term Benefits of Language Immersion
Learning more than one language builds lifelong skills by enhancing cognitive, creative, and social abilities—from sharpened focus, critical thinking, and problem-solving to open-mindedness, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Research on child development shows this window of opportunity is highest between birth and age six.

Bilingualism helps children build self-esteem, creativity, problem-solving skills, and mathematical thinking ability and gives them a head start for professional and economic opportunities worldwide.