TFS Participating in Cutting Edge Research on the Impacts of Bilingualism

Toronto French School is determined to be on the cutting edge of bilingual education.  And we are pleased to announce our participation in a research project being undertaken by leading researcher Dr. Ellen Bialystok of York University. This project will study how the acquisition of more than one language seems to positively impact cognitive development in children.

This particular research is being conducted exclusively at TFS since it uniquely offers high-level immersion education, as well as student entry into the Junior School at any grade level, regardless of prior knowledge of French. The study will allow Dr. Bialystok to determine not only the effect of immersion education on the brain, but also probably the reason for the effect i.e. age, length of time in the program, proficiency in French, etc.

The research will involve all of our Grade 2 and Grade 5 classes at the Junior School. It began the week of February 15th and will continue to April 8th.

TFS is very excited to be part of this research, as it highlights the cumulative bilingual advantage of having children in a dual/multiple language program over an extended period of time.

Dr. Bialystok is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University. She started conducting research on the effects of bilingualism on cognitive development 23 years ago. To read more about her previous research, and the life-long benefits of bilingualism, please click here.