Why choose a bilingual School in zgz.- CPI ZARAGOZA SUR

Choosing a bilingual school is not just a fad but a real investment in the future of our children. Because? Well, in an increasingly globalized world, mastering more than one language has become a necessity for children's personal, academic and professional future development. San Gabriel Zuera is a school in constant innovation and with an increasingly diverse educational offer and offers an excellent option for a bilingual school that combines pedagogical innovation with an international focus.

Keep reading and discover the true advantages of opting for bilingual education and how this choice can make a difference in the comprehensive development of your children.

What is a bilingual school?

A bilingual school is one that offers teaching in two languages ​​transversally and continuously throughout the student's school life. There is a misconception that offering some subject in English can be considered bilingual, but bilingual education goes much further. A truly bilingual school not only teaches English as a subject, but also incorporates the language in different areas of knowledge (such as science, technology or physical education), promoting a natural and contextualized use of the language.

What does quality bilingual education mean ?

A quality bilingual education implies a solid pedagogical project, trained teachers and continuity in learning. Furthermore, it seeks not only linguistic competence, but also academic and cultural development in both languages. For this reason, in our center we are committed to including activities beyond the merely academic ones so that our students see English as a transversal element.

Ultimately, quality bilingual education means offering students the opportunity to develop solid linguistic skills in two languages, in a balanced and contextualized way.

This involves not only teaching vocabulary or grammar, but also integrating both languages ​​into meaningful academic content, promoting cultural understanding, critical thinking, and respect for diversity. An effective bilingual education values ​​and takes advantage of the student's native language as a learning tool, while ensuring mastery of the second language to function successfully in academic, social and professional contexts.

Advantages of studying in a bilingual school that make a difference

Studying in a bilingual school offers concrete benefits for children's development, beyond mastering English. Children who are exposed to a language other than their mother tongue from an early age acquire a more natural pronunciation and understand the language more easily, which gives them a significant advantage over learning in adulthood.

1. Better pronunciation and understanding from a young age

During childhood, the brain is especially receptive to new languages. It is the ideal time to internalize linguistic structures intuitively, without conscious effort. It is especially worth highlighting the incorporation of certain phonemes that are acquired naturally at a very early age and that are difficult to acquire in adulthood.

Childhood is a period where the cognitive development associated with bilingualism is enhanced. Numerous studies show that bilingual children develop greater mental flexibility, better memory, greater ability to concentrate, and problem-solving skills. It is advisable to offer rich and constant exposure to both languages ​​in meaningful contexts (family, school, games) so that they learn it naturally just as they do with their mother tongue.

2. Greater cultural openness

Learning in two languages ​​also implies knowing other cultures. This promotes tolerance, empathy and a more global vision of the world, especially valuable in a society like today's. The center's Passionist ideology has as its fundamental pillars that our students acquire these values.

3. More career opportunities in the future

Mastering other languages ​​today opens doors to international university studies, exchange programs, and job opportunities both in Spain and abroad. We live in a very competitive world in which children who have these experiences in their curriculum will have a comparative advantage over the rest.

Speaking English (or another second language) fluently is one of the skills most in demand by companies in practically all sectors. A bilingual student has greater chances of accessing international positions, working with foreign clients or suppliers, or even standing out in job interviews compared to other candidates. Furthermore, the development of new work formats as well as the expansion of multinational companies makes this worker profile increasingly in demand.

What to take into account when choosing between bilingual schools in Zaragoza?

Zaragoza, as a growing province and increasingly connected to the outside world, offers multiple cultural, educational and professional opportunities. Studying in a bilingual school allows children to access a broader world from a young age, understanding not only the language, but also the cultures that accompany it. This encourages empathy, tolerance and open-mindedness. In any case, not all centers offer the same level of quality in their bilingual program. These are some key aspects to consider when making the complicated decision of choosing one center or another:

1. Educational project and teacher training

It is essential that the center has a clear and coherent bilingualism plan, and that it has qualified teachers, with specific training and accredited command of English. This plan must be integrated into the programming of the entire center since it is a transversal and interlevel project. At San Gabriel School, there is a bilingualism department made up of teachers from all educational stages to integrate and create activities that contribute and are integrated throughout the center. The department coordinates the activities and programs them so that they can be carried out, enriching the normal development of the center.

2. Official Cambridge certifications

Preparation for official certifications, such as the Cambridge exams , ensures that the level of English achieved is internationally recognized and facilitates future academic opportunities. In our center, students can obtain these certifications, which means that they can do so in a familiar and safe environment, which helps them minimize the typical nerves of these situations. At Colegio San Gabriel we prepare students to pass the different levels of the Cambridge exams, from the most basic to the most advanced, ensuring a real and applicable mastery of the language.

3. Continuity of learning in English throughout schooling

A quality bilingual school offers a coherent progression from kindergarten to secondary school, ensuring that language development is constant and appropriate to each educational stage. Teachers at all educational stages must establish an action plan to ensure that students have a controlled progression in the language. English is not just a subject, but a language of common communication in the classroom.

Specific activities, projects and classes are carried out in English, promoting natural and continuous use of the language. From early childhood and primary school, this learning is encouraged by giving content in English in subjects such as Science. This approach allows children to learn academic content while developing English language skills. They not only learn the language, but use it in real contexts.

This format continues in secondary school, where our students can choose to take the bilingual route, where in addition to taking the English subject, students have the option of taking two more subjects in English. This approach allows students to develop areas of the brain related to reasoning, memory and attention.