In an increasingly globalised world, bilingual education is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. Many schools claim to offer bilingual programmes, yet their methods vary significantly in depth, effectiveness, and long-term impact. Our approach at École Mosaic distinguishes itself through a uniquely integrated, research-informed, and human-centred approach to bilingualism that goes beyond traditional models, and is based on over 20 years of successful practice. By combining true language immersion, cognitive development, and multicultural awareness, our method offers a more complete and effective pathway to bilingual mastery, which is evidenced by the outstanding academic results our students achieve in both the English and French sides of the curriculum.
A truly integrated bilingual system
Many bilingual schools rely on simple time division—half the week in one language, half in another, or alternating subjects daily. While this provides exposure, it often leads to compartmentalised language use.
At École Mosaic, we take a more sophisticated approach. In the early years, children alternate languages weekly, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in one linguistic system at a time without constant switching. This contrasts with many bilingual models (such as half-day or dual-day immersion systems) where frequent switching can limit deep cognitive processing in each language.
While the focus is always on the main language of instruction, our teachers are also trained to use translanguaging, whereby multilingual speakers use their full linguistic repertoire—moving fluidly between languages—to make meaning, learn, and communicate, rather than keeping languages entirely separate. This empowers students to use their home language to understand academic content and build proficiency in a new language.
Our approach encourages authentic thinking in each language and builds stronger long-term fluency and confidence.
As children progress into Grade 1, subjects are taught in both languages within a bilingual learning unit which does not simply repeat the same lesson in another language but, owing to careful planning and collaboration, builds on and develops knowledge from the previous lesson in a bilingual learning unit framework. The sequence of learning sessions that make up the learning unit is structured not only around the concept itself (subtraction, for example) but also around the specific knowledge of each language used to construct this concept in both languages.
This is where the magic of bilingual education lies: two languages, two teaching strategies, and one concept.
By acquiring a broader vocabulary in both French and English, and by developing a wider range of strategies, our students learn to think more effectively, to be more creative, and ultimately, to succeed and reach their full potential.
Plurilingualism: Understanding language, not just speaking it
Most bilingual programmes focus on functional proficiency—speaking, reading, and writing. At École Mosaic we go a step further by promoting plurilingualism, an advanced concept that includes understanding how languages work, evolve, and relate to one another.
Our students are taught to explore language structures and patterns, cultural and historical contexts and connections between multiple languages – including the many home languages spoken by them that are not English or French.
This develops meta-linguistic awareness (how language itself works), makes learning additional languages easier and encourages flexible, analytical thinking, which is rarely emphasised in traditional bilingual schools.
Dual-curriculum integration: academic strength in two systems
Rather than choosing one national curriculum, our programme blends the Swiss Plan d’Études Romand (PER) with the Cambridge International Curriculum into a single, coherent programme. This is not parallel teaching—it is a fully integrated approach which ensures that students meet local academic standards, gain access to international educational pathways and develop subject knowledge in both languages. Our teachers work together constantly to ensure that there is a coherency between what is taught in each language.
This unique method avoids gaps or duplication between curricula, prepares students for multiple future systems (Swiss, British, IB, etc.) and strengthens academic vocabulary in both languages.
Co-teaching by native speakers
All of our classes are co-led by two teachers—one native French speaker and one native English speaker.
Unlike schools where one teacher teaches both languages (often with uneven proficiency), or where certain subjects (often those deemed as traditionally “academic” subjects) are taught in one language, and the other subjects (such as arts, sport or theatre) are taught in the second, our École Mosaic model ensures authentic pronunciation and expression, the development of cultural nuance in both languages and balanced exposure and equal status between languages and subject disciplines.
Personalised language support
A major weakness in many bilingual programmes is the assumption that all students progress at the same pace. At École Mosaic we address this with a structured language tutoring programme for students who need additional support or who haven’t already learned in a bilingual environment.
This system maintains high academic standards in both languages, takes into account the diverse linguistic backgrounds of our learners and ensures that no child falls behind.
Learning through meaning, not just language
At École Mosaic, language is not taught in isolation—it is embedded in real-world, interdisciplinary learning. With all subjects taught at an equal level in both languages, our students also learn through numerous interdisciplinary projects, such as our multicultural class projects and our end of year show, which integrate creativity, collaboration, and communication, in both languages, mirroring real-life multilingual environments and better prepares students for the real world.
A multicultural environment that makes bilingualism meaningful
With students from over 40 nationalities, our school is a genuinely international environment where bilingualism is lived daily—not just taught. Our students don’t just learn languages, they also interact across cultures, develop empathy and global awareness and build adaptable communication skills which make them better global citizens. Every week we put the spotlight on a new world language, encouraging our students to become more open-minded, develop respect for other languages and cultures, and grow pride in the languages they speak at home.
Conclusion: A more complete model of bilingual education
Our approach to bilingualism is more successful than many others, not because it teaches two languages—but because it redefines what bilingual education should be. Instead of fragmented exposure, it offers:
- Deep immersion without over-reliance on translation
- A cognitive understanding of language (plurilingualism)
- Integrated academic excellence across two systems
- Authentic teaching through native co-educators
- Personalised support for every learner
- A multicultural, real-world learning environment
In contrast to more traditional bilingual models, which often prioritise convenience or structure, at École Mosaic we prioritise how children actually learn languages best—through immersion, meaning, and human connection.
The result is not just bilingual students, but globally competent, adaptable thinkers prepared for an interconnected world.
By Helen Fleet & Florence Dauriat, Heads of Pedagogy at École Mosaic
