Although it follows the French curriculum, fluency in French has never been a prerequisite for children to join International French School (Singapore). The Yoshii family’s story is testament to this, praising the school’s approach for making French education accessible to everyone.
The decision for the Yoshii family to enrol their daughter at International French School (Singapore) is a unique one. Ceon Yoshii spent most of her early years attending an English-medium school in Singapore, and has a strong grasp of Mandarin as well. But, she speaks limited French, most of which are basic phrases she picked up through her family’s many visits to France.
So, why did Takuya and Naomi Yoshii (who aren’t French nationals) choose IFS for their daughter, where a significant number of subjects are taught in French? The Yoshiis share their story with us here.
Why did you choose a French education for Ceon?
Our family has always had a strong affection for France and French culture. In our opinion, French and Japanese culture share certain values, such as our appreciation for craftsmanship, food, art, tradition, detail, and generally taking pride in the way they do things. We’ve also visited France many times as a family, so France is a meaningful part of our family’s life.
Besides that, multilingualism is something we value highly, and it’s something the French education system promotes. Ceon was previously educated primarily in English and studied Mandarin extensively. So, introducing French felt like a natural next step in her education.
We understand that Ceon wasn’t fluent in French when she first joined IFS. How did the school support her in this aspect?
The fact that IFS accepts children who don’t speak French, and even offers a structured language support programme to help them learn the language, was what really attracted us.
The school supports non-French-speaking children through the FLSco programme, gradually helping them become part of a genuinely French-speaking academic and cultural environment. Throughout her time at IFS, Ceon was never expected to adapt to the new language and culture by herself. The combination of FLSco, classroom integration, and close attention from her teachers really helped her to progress and feel that she belonged in this school. She never felt left behind, and her teachers made learning French interesting by making it seem like an adventure for her.
For us, Ceon didn’t just learn a new language at IFS; she also gained a genuine cultural and educational foundation, which we believe is a huge added value for her future.
Besides the solid language and student support, what else does your family appreciate about IFS?
IFS really helped Ceon feel like she belongs in the school. For example, the school celebrated her win at the recent All Japan Junior Squash Championships U11 category. Ceon worked extremely hard for this, as squash training required a great deal of discipline and perseverance. The fact that IFS recognised and celebrated this achievement proved to us that the school values the whole child, not just her performance in school. Seeing Ceon surprised on stage with her trophy and medal was a very special moment for our family.
In your own words, tell us what you think makes IFS a great school?
We feel that IFS’ acceptance of non-French-speaking children is something that is particularly valuable in a global hub like Singapore. The school makes French education accessible not only to French families, but also to children from other nationalities and backgrounds who are interested to learn more about French language and culture.
Thank you for speaking to us, Takuya and Naomi.
This post is in partnership with International French School (Singapore).
