On Thursday, December 1, our students and educators graced the auditorium at SFJAZZ Center with an inspiring presentation on the merits of Being Bilingual. Head of School Melinda Bihn kicked off the evening with four takeaways: broadly, that the youngest minds are primed to be bilingual; that the incremental journey of cognition, reading, writing, and speaking takes time; that learning in two languages makes us nimbler thinkers and, finally, transforms us.

Andrew Brown spoke to the neuroscience that supports the absorbent nature of the infant mind—with an actual size of its brain in hand. Our three principals—Marie-Pierre Carlotti, Fabrice Urrizalqui, and Joel Cohen—explained how the bilingual journey unfolds in their respective sections, with the help of current students at every stage. Alumni Tallulah Axinn '14 and Larson Holt '15 expressed how bilingualism and what they learned at French American & International helped them at Harvard and Columbia.

A warm audience of prospective and current parents, colleagues and peer bilingual educators was moved and charmed by our team, and has provided ample positive feedback. A special thanks to the following students and faculty for making the event a success!

Pauline '30
Sylvia '26
Ella, Brady, and Mille, Class of 2023
Luke, Amelia, and Baxter, Class of 2021
Fatou '19, Keishi '17, and James '17
Music by Gwyneth '17, Julian '18, Philippe Lenberg, and Amaury Suchon
Produced by Robert Movradinov

Watch the video recap >>

View photos from the event >>