Bilingualism
Natural, everyday bilingualism
At Becoming schools, bilingualism is not just an educational choice: it is a value, a way of growing up. At Locomotiva di Momo it is part of everyday life: of relationships, routines and the very way we learn.
From the moment they join the nursery, the children grow up in an environment where Italian and English coexist naturally, supported by native-speaking nursery staff and bilingual teachers and by an integrated teaching approach that uses both languages as tools for communicating, thinking and learning.
Understanding stems from ongoing experience, direct contact with a native-speaking teacher, and a school environment that promotes and values languages. Children do not merely learn English; they experience growing up in a bilingual environment in a highly interactive and creative way.
The benefits of bilingualism
- Superior logical abilities Greater analytical and problem-solving skills
- Greater attention and concentration Switching between languages requires focus
- Enhanced creativity A predisposition towards divergent thinking and non-verbal creativity
- Enhanced working memory Bilingual children find it easier to do mental arithmetic and to memorise instructions
- Cultural openness and long-term benefits Recognising the diversity of viewpoints, an open-minded attitude towards the world’s cultures, and greater mental flexibility even in adulthood
Bilingualism Matters
Becoming Education works in partnership with Bilingualism Matters, an international research centre on bilingualism, to ensure an evidence-based approach.
Bilingualism in Practice
Growing up in a bilingual school means using two languages every day, quite naturally.
Educators and teachers are living language role models, and children are immersed in a bilingual environment, where learning takes place naturally, through interaction and direct experience.
“One Teacher, One Language” method
Every member of the teaching staff speaks to the children exclusively in their own mother tongue. Consistently associating a language with a particular person enables the child to learn English spontaneously and intuitively, without any confusion.
Fair exposure to languages
The team is organised to ensure a balanced mix of Italian and English. In the nursery, the policy is to have either native-speaking or bilingual educators in each section; in the preschool, native English speakers work alongside Italian-speaking teachers.
Experience facilitators
English becomes part of everyday life through real-life communication. The teachers incorporate the language into all routines: from playing in the park to visits to the market, museums or on public transport. The aim is for English to become a tool for exploring and understanding the world.
Champions of storytelling
Teachers use reading aloud, drawing on a rich bilingual library to nurture a natural and experiential understanding of the language. Reading aloud, in the predominant languages, opens up dialogue and encourages children to explore and experiment with words.
Spaces designed for language learning
The teachers create environments in which the English language enriches the children’s exploration. Songs, active games and creative activities provide natural opportunities for the children to encounter the language and make it their own.
Bilingualism
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