La Petite Ecole’s New Early Years Campus Empowers Multilingual Learners

“Like adding new branches to the same tree,” Mary Malifarges, the Pedagogical Advisor at La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh City, describes the opening of a new campus at 22/1 Lê Văn Miến Street, An Khánh Ward (formerly Thảo Điền) and the introduction of two new pedagogical offerings.

For nearly 10 years, La Petite Ecole has offered a truly bilingual education (French-English) for children ages 1 - 11 that adheres to a curriculum established by France’s Ministry of Education and emphasizes critical thinking and a self-motivated search for the reasons behind answers. The school believes that children learn best when they are engaged, confident, and active participants in their own learning, as is best achieved in rich, caring, and stimulating environments, and the expansion is a natural step in the school’s development. 

One new campus, two new pathways

“Ultimately, this new campus is not just about expansion — it is about refining and enriching our educational model to better meet the evolving expectations of families, while staying true to what defines La Petite Ecole,” Mary notes. Therefore, the new campus, also in Thảo Điền, will offer a new, fully trilingual (French-English-Vietnamese) program for Early Years (students ages 3 - 6) that embodies the school’s belief that languages are not subjects to study, but tools for thinking, learning, and interacting. Meanwhile, a new nursery option (students from 12 months) will be conducted in English, as opposed to the currently available French.

Both new programs embody the belief that true immersion via instruction and activities led by native speakers of a language establishes the neural pathways that promote lifelong flexibility for not just learning languages, but learning in general, as well as empathy, confidence, and the ability to navigate a complex world. Science has overwhelmingly proven that the youngest learners are particularly adept at grasping new languages, and in doing so, improve cognitive flexibility, adaptability, and openness to others. Or, as Mary sums it up: “learning multiple languages from an early age is not about learning more… it is about learning better.”

Flexible models to meet families’ unique needs

La Petite Ecole’s new trilingual model is particularly appealing for Vietnamese and mixed-heritage families because it prepares students for international standards while valuing local language and cultural identity. Meanwhile, La Petite Ecole’s nursery option appeals to families who wish to prioritize English from the earliest years before transitioning to multilingual education because it may not be spoken at home. This option maintains exposure to French language and culture, and preserves the same educational quality and structure that is observed throughout the school. 

The essential linguistic, cognitive, social, and motor foundations that both programs lay allow students to enjoy a particularly smooth transition into later years at the school and beyond. Starting with a strong command of multiple languages means children “are not simply getting ahead — they are developing lasting ease, confidence, and the ability to learn in multiple languages … it means giving them the tools to think, learn, and thrive in multiple languages, and therefore in multiple worlds,” Mary notes.

A comfortable cocoon for learning

La Petite Ecole’s new campus is a calm, green, and protected setting, “designed to create a reassuring ‘cocoon’ for young children,” Mary says. It balances nature and accessibility, so students can explore, move, create, and focus. Essential to children’s learning here is physical and emotional well-being, which is understood as a combination of security, self-confidence, quality relationships, and motor development. To nurture these conditions, each school day includes physical activities, sensory activities, and emotional exploration via routines, storytelling, and guided discussions. Most importantly, the committed team of teachers and staff gives personalized attention to each child, which establishes a climate of trust where each child feels safe to express themselves and take initiative. “A child who feels calm, heard, and engaged is a child who is ready to learn,” Mary says. 

La Petite Ecole places great importance on hands-on experiences that allow children to understand, explore, and create through meaningful, real-life situations, and the new campus includes specific elements that allow it to holistically introduce a variety of subject areas, including STEM, eco-citizenship, and creativity. The pedagogical kitchen, for example, allows children to learn through concrete and engaging activities: handling, measuring, tasting, and collaborating so they strengthen language, mathematics, and autonomy skills while recognizing the joys of cooperation. Meanwhile, the sensory room offers a soothing and immersive environment where light, textures, and sounds are specifically designed to stimulate the senses, support emotional regulation, and encourage gentle exploration. And by observing growing plants in the garden, students develop curiosity, logical thinking, and an ability to question the world around them. Even everyday actions such as gardening, sorting, and taking ownership of shared spaces help children build early ecological awareness and respect for living things.

An invitation to understand the school in action

After diligent work, the new campus is ready for its official unveiling. Families interested in learning more about La Petite Ecole’s educational philosophy, including the two new programs, meeting teachers and administrators, and seeing the facilities where their children can learn and play, are invited to an Open House on May 9 from 11:00 am to 01:00 pm. Held at the new campus, it will give parents an opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for the nurturing but rigorous environment that develops students into lifelong, bilingual learners with compassion and confidence. 

 Interested families can register for the May 9 Open day here.