Multilingualism is an asset that elevates young minds, academically, cognitively and emotionally. But what does multilingualism mean in practice, and why is it so important for today’s young people?
Bilingualism (being able to speak two languages well) and multilingualism (being able to communicate in more than two languages) are key considerations for today’s parents.
Language skills allow people to join more conversations, build friendships and collaborate better across countries and cultures. There are also huge benefits when it comes to academic progress, skills development and careers opportunities.
At International Schools Partnership (ISP), we estimate that around 104 different languages are spoken among our students and teachers. Our whole-school approach to multilingualism means that leaders, teachers and students understand the benefits of being able to communicate in multiple languages.
What are the benefits of speaking more than one language?
By understanding someone else’s language and communicating through a different cultural lens, individuals can appreciate diverse perspectives and participate in more opportunities.
There is also strong evidence that people who can communicate in more than one language have more cognitive flexibility, are creative problem solvers and have improved memory. Language learning has even been shown to delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
When it comes to careers, multilingual people can earn up to 19% more in the workplace than those that who speak just one language. Multilingualism also nurtures effective communication skills, no matter the language being spoken.
What does multilingualism look like at school?
The best international schools in the world build different languages into the learning experience. Children are immersed in an environment where teachers speak multiple languages, while also engaging in structured learning to develop academic language and literacy in the main language of education, which supports their natural language acquisition.
But International Schools Partnership also focuses carefully on creating structured learning experiences so that students develop academic literacy in the main language of education. While not every teacher is a language teacher, every educator in an international school is responsible for helping students to develop subject-specific academic language.
ISP students use translanguaging – an approach that involves drawing on their understanding of the different languages they speak to master other languages.
What is the difference between bilingual schools and multilingual schools?
In a bilingual education setting, students learn in subjects such as maths, history and science in two languages, typically through the local language and another, global language, such as English. They often also develop skills in a third language as part of the school curriculum.
All ISP schools are essentially multilingual, but at our international schools, students frequently learn in one main language of education, which is often English and typically different to their home language, supporting them to develop strong proficiency in this second language while acquiring additional languages offered across the curriculum.
We aim to ensure students master a world language, often English, while nurturing their home languages. The maintenance and development of learners’ home languages are crucial to their success in their additional languages. Research demonstrates that academic literacy in the first language that a child develops from infancy impacts their later academic success.
Multilingual education transforms our students’ experience, making learning more accessible, nurturing a sense of community, and opening doors to new opportunities throughout life.
Are multilingual skills still important in the age of AI translation and interpretation?
It is true that technology can translate written and spoken languages, but they rarely grasp their nuances, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) still has a long way to go when translating technical and specialist language.
Humans bring the vital empathy and cultural understanding needed to navigate nuances of communication like humour and politeness. These skills are vital to building real connections with people in different social and professional settings.
In International Schools Partnership’s series of career preparation talks – the A to Z Speaker Series – our speakers often highlight the importance of human skills like communication, as well as language skills in their industry.
In a recent talk, Helena Kale – Strategic Partner Development Manager at Google for Latin America spoke with International Schools Partnership about why human skills matter most in the technology industry. Helena highlighted a key difference between AI interpretation and human language skills:
“At Google, we have a tool in meetings that allows me to speak in Portuguese and hear myself in English so in theory, I don’t need to know English. But I really believe that AI is an extension [of human skills]. If I am able to think critically in different languages, I can do more.”
Can speaking multiple languages improve access to career opportunities?
Global companies, as well as smaller businesses that operate or want to expand overseas, value employees who can speak more than one language. Nearly a quarter of businesses (23%) listed multilingualism as a core skill required for their workforce in the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2025.
There are specific careers that require bilingual or multilingual skills, such as translation, interpretation, international business roles and diplomacy. Multilingualism can also benefit careers in journalism, tourism, healthcare and social work, and public services such as the police, as it enables people to communicate effectively with more people, including those who are vulnerable.
In contrast, lack of language skills can be a barrier to business – according to UNESCO, the UK ‘has been estimated to lose approximately 3.5% of its GDP annually due to relatively poor language skills among its population, limiting international trade and economic opportunities.’
As careers become increasingly varied to navigate a changing world of work, multilingualism is a core skill. It transcends careers and roles, meaning those who are multilingual have a transferable skill they can deploy as they seek new opportunities through life.
Across the ISP network of schools, our international opportunities bring together multilingual learning with the chance for students to explore their fields of interest and career possibilities.
Students can take part in programmes around the world to collaborate with other schools and develop their own projects – such as ISP Model United Nations. A multilingual education makes this possible, as ISP students are mastering communication with children and adults who speak other languages.
Academic achievement for bilingual and multilingual students
Studies show that multilingual students’ performance in literacy, mathematics and science excels that of monolingual students from ages 11 to 16. It is believed that these results are owed to enhanced cognitive skills.
Bilingual and multilingual brains are trained to digest information and grasp complex concepts, which they can apply across subjects. Research shows that people who speak more than one language perform better on memory tests, demonstrating stronger cognitive ability.
Multilingualism and translanguaging help students interact better with the whole curriculum as they can use a wider base of knowledge, skills and understanding to express ideas.
Flexibility through multilingualism
One of ISP’s core focuses is to build well-rounded, confident individuals who can thrive wherever life takes them. Our Learning.First.™ approach puts students at the centre of their learning journey, and our multilingual education supports them to adapt to different environments.
ISP students confidently move between different languages to communicate with peers and teachers. Through this experience, they challenge their brains to structure communication in different ways, which nurtures mental flexibility. This ability to adapt supports our students to embrace change, think creatively and solve problems, which will stand them in a strong position to progress through their careers.
Does learning multiple languages support empathy?
A multilingual education builds strong communication skills. As well as building language knowledge, students develop reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. As a result, multilingual learners are adept at being empathetic in conversation and creating connections with others.
Being surrounded by people from different cultures also supports an open-minded outlook and understanding of others.
How do ISP schools nurture globally minded young people?
At International Schools Partnership, multilingualism is one of our core learning pillars. We believe learning in multiple languages is a crucial part of developing curious, confident minds that understand and celebrate diversity.
ISP schools work closely with parents to encourage their children to maintain and develop their home languages, while we focus on developing their proficiency in additional world languages.
Would you like to know more? Find an ISP school near you and speak to our teams about boosting multilingualism at school and at home.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is translanguaging?
Translanguaging describes teaching practices that promote multilingual learners using their existing language knowledge to understand new languages. It involves stages of working in their home languages when grasping new concepts, with the aim of then translating and analysing the similarities and differences between the way that languages express ideas, so that they can learn effectively in two languages or more.
2. How is translanguaging used in the classroom?
At ISP schools, we encourage students to use all the languages they speak to help them learn. This means they can think through ideas, ask questions, and explore new topics in their home language first, before sharing their understanding in the target language, usually English.
For example, in a Physics class, a student might be asked to explain gravity. They may begin by thinking and making notes in their home language, such as Polish, to fully understand the concept. Then, with support from their teacher, they work with classmates to create a final presentation in English.
Teachers provide tools and guidance in the classroom to support this process, with a focus on helping students build the academic English they need to confidently communicate their learning.
3. How does translanguaging help students?
At ISP, we understand that when students use the different languages that they know, it can help them to express their previous learning, understand new ideas, explain their thinking with clarity, and communicate confidently.
Translanguaging is a powerful and flexible way to learn, which supports metacognition or ‘learning to learn’, building our students’ confidence, participation and overall success in school, while also valuing their full identities.
4. What languages does the United Nations (UN) use?
When it comes to multilateral talks, the UN adopts six official languages for meetings and documentation (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).
5. How many languages are spoken around the world?
According to Ethnologue, there are around 7,000 languages spoken worldwide.
