# Language of instruction

**Should our child attend an immersion or bilingual school?**

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

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.

- Area: School and academics
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: Preschool
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/school-and-academics--language-of-instruction

## Language of instruction: what are the options?

1. **English with core French**: The child is taught in English and takes French as one subject.
2. **Late immersion**: The child switches to mostly French instruction in later elementary or middle school.
3. **Early immersion**: The child is taught mostly in French from kindergarten or grade one.
4. **Francophone school**: The child attends a school for French-speaking families, taught entirely in French.
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:

- [Statistics Canada](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/98-200-X/2021018/98-200-X2021018-eng.cfm)
- [Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-008-x/2004002/article/7003-eng.pdf)

## 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?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=school-and-academics&topic=school-and-academics--language-of-instruction