Language Immersion
Students who speak multiple languages have better control over their attention, decision making, and planning. Being multilingual is also a strong predictor of both academic success and lifelong happiness.
Why English?
La Scuola International School started in San Francisco, California as a playgroup for local Italian and Italian-American families. Since those first days, we have grown to encompass families from around the world, many of whom receive their introduction to a second or third language at La Scuola.
We love English for how it connects our Milano campus with our United States campuses, and for how it connects students with communities all over the world. Ability to communicate in English opens incredible opportunities for La Scuola International School, Milano students.
Niente Senza Gioia. Nada Sin Alegría. Nothing Without Joy.
Early exposure to additional languages enables more neural connections to form in children’s brains, actually improving their skills in their first language.
Students entering La Scuola for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and sixth grade receive a joyous and gentle welcome to English. Those applying to other grades will be evaluated during the admissions process to ensure they have a similarly warm experience.
In preschool, conversation and class is primarily in English. The percentage of Italian gradually increases so that by fourth grade time is split between Italian and English. In middle school, instruction is primarily in Italian, with students receiving six hours of language instruction every six days.
MONTREAL MODEL OF LANGUAGE IMMERSION
Approximate percentages of English/Italian instruction per grade level.
* Specialist subjects may be taught in English or Italian.