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Language of instruction

Which language your child is taught in, such as English with some French, French immersion, or a bilingual program.

Should our child attend an immersion or bilingual school?

In short: Parents choose between 5 main approaches: English with core French; Late immersion; Early immersion; Francophone school; Other bilingual program. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: preschool.

Evidence
Your call
Best settled
Preschool
Part of
Learning & the wider world

Language of instruction: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 5 approaches.

  1. 1. English with core French

    The child is taught in English and takes French as one subject.

  2. 2. Late immersion

    The child switches to mostly French instruction in later elementary or middle school.

  3. 3. Early immersion

    The child is taught mostly in French from kindergarten or grade one.

  4. 4. Francophone school

    The child attends a school for French-speaking families, taught entirely in French.

  5. 5. Other bilingual program

    The child attends a program taught in two languages, such as Spanish or Mandarin with English.

Language of instruction: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. (Values, with supportive evidence)

Immersion students were about 12 times more likely to converse in French; higher scores partly reflect who enrolls

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

In Canada, families can often choose French immersion, where most subjects are taught in French. Elsewhere, dual-language programs teach in two languages. Children in immersion generally keep up in English over time.

Questions to ask each other

  • Do we want our child to be bilingual, and why?
  • What would we do if we do not speak the school language at home?
  • How would we help with homework?

More in School and academics

First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.