International Nursery
Languages in an International Nursery
Such little babies and so many languages? Why start so early? Why introduce multiple languages?
If you see language immersion as a great opportunity but worry that your baby might struggle with more than one language, there’s no need to worry! Here’s why:
A common misconception about language acquisition is that learning a language is a difficult and tedious process—something adults experience when studying a new language. But babies learn languages differently! Just as they naturally learn to sleep, eat, and walk, they also acquire languages effortlessly.
The nursery years are the best time for language acquisition. Through full immersion and the OPOL (One Person, One Language) approach, children absorb multiple languages in the most natural way, setting the foundation for lifelong multilingualism.
So, seize the opportunity and allow your child to be immersed in and absorb two additional languages effortlessly from the age of one.
Don’t wait until primary school! Some believe that children can start learning a language and learning in a language once they enter primary school—but by then, it’s much harder. Language is a tool we acquire from the very first days of life. The only limit to the number of languages a child can learn is the time they spend immersed in each one—first understanding, then speaking.
So why not take advantage of this natural ability when language acquisition is at its peak, between 1 and 1.5 years old? We take pride in seeing our kindergarteners confidently perform a 45-minute show in Mandarin!
What is Immersion?
Immersion is a language-learning process where your child is surrounded by native speakers in everyday situations, with the target language taking center stage.
In an international nursery, immersion means that all daily activities—from diaper changing and potty training to learning nursery rhymes and singing lullabies—are conducted in a specific language spoken by caregivers. If the nursery is trilingual, three native speakers will each use a different language at designated times of the day, following the OPOL (One Person, One Language) principle.
Don’t worry if your child doesn’t understand everything at first. Babies naturally embrace moments of not understanding—this is how they learn! Give your child the opportunity to absorb new languages effortlessly in a stress-free, engaging environment.
What is OPOL and How Does It Work?
OPOL (One Person, One Language) is a language acquisition approach where each person speaks only one language to the child. It is widely used by parents raising bilingual children and plays a crucial role in early language learning in international nurseries. This method helps children associate a specific language with a specific person, supporting their natural ability to separate languages and reducing language mixing over time.
OPOL also benefits caregivers by reinforcing language development and expanding vocabulary. With native speakers guiding daily activities—such as nursery rhymes, lullabies, and routines—children experience language as if they were in a real-life linguistic environment.
Don’t worry if your child mixes languages or isn’t immediately fluent in the language of instruction at school. Language mixing is a natural part of bilingual development. Babies don’t focus on speaking perfectly; they communicate using all available means. What matters most is surrounding them with rich and accurate language input.
Yes, language acquisition in babies may seem like a miracle—and in many ways, it is! Only at this young age can children absorb multiple languages so effortlessly.
This is How Language Immersion Works. Listen to Our Two-Year-Old Students!
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