“While many candidates demonstrated solid linguistic skills, ISB students consistently distinguished themselves through the quality of their reasoning, the depth of their analysis, and their ability to adapt to the expectations of francophone examiners.”

PL@2026

Beyond Code-Switching: How ISB Students Learn to Think Across Cultures

“I'm fluent in French. Why would I need a certification?”

It is a question many bilingual students ask themselves.

At the International School of Boston, French-language certifications such as the DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) are not only checkpoint examinations but also milestones in a student's bilingual and intercultural journey.

Awarded by the French Ministry of Education, DELF diplomas are recognized internationally and can provide significant academic advantages. In many North American colleges and universities, a DELF B1 diploma may be worth up to three semester hours of college credit, while a DELF B2 diploma can be worth up to six semester hours, depending on the institution.

Yet the true value of certification goes far beyond college credit.

Writing Like a Pro

In March and, most recently, this past May, ISB 8th-grade and 10th-grade International Baccalaureate students participated in the DELF Junior B1 & B2 examinations alongside candidates from various schools and language programs.

The DELF B2 is an advanced diploma that requires candidates not only to demonstrate strong French language skills but also to analyze issues, develop arguments, consider multiple perspectives, and persuade an audience.

What stood out in this year's results was not simply the students' ability to write and speak French. It was their ability to think differently. While many candidates demonstrated solid linguistic skills, ISB students consistently distinguished themselves through the quality of their reasoning, the depth of their analysis, and their ability to adapt to the expectations of francophone examiners.

In the written examination, ISB candidates scored higher than external candidates. Their essays were generally more structured, more nuanced, and more persuasive. Rather than simply proposing activities or describing ideas, they frequently explored broader questions such as civic responsibility, sustainability, global citizenship, and the role of education in shaping future generations.

Many connected local actions to global challenges, demonstrating a maturity of thought that extends beyond language learning itself.

Speaking Like Hugo

The oral examinations revealed another remarkable observation. Although many ISB students are not native French speakers, examiners noted no foreign accents among ISB candidates. Students demonstrated a natural command of pronunciation, rhythm, intonation, and interaction strategies, allowing them to communicate confidently and authentically.

This achievement reflects years of immersion, daily practice, and meaningful communication in French. It also illustrates an important reality of bilingual education: language mastery is not only about vocabulary and grammar, but also about understanding how people think, interact, and express themselves within a culture.

Thinking Like Rousseau

Linguists often use the term code-switching to describe the ability to move between languages. At ISB, we see our students developing something even more powerful: mind-switching.

Mind-switching is the ability to move between different cultural and intellectual frameworks. It is the ability to understand not only another language, but also another way of organizing ideas, building arguments, and communicating effectively.

Success in the DELF is not simply about knowing French vocabulary or grammar. Candidates are expected to structure their reasoning in accordance with conventions deeply rooted in the francophone educational tradition. They must present balanced arguments, acknowledge alternative viewpoints, and persuade a reader using a style that French examiners recognize and value.

Many ISB students demonstrated precisely this skill. Rather than translating ideas from English into French, they adapted their reasoning to the intellectual framework expected by francophone evaluators. In doing so, they showed that bilingual education is not only about speaking two languages—it is about learning to navigate different ways of thinking.

Beyond the 100% Passing Rate: Preparing Students' Minds for a Global World

A DELF diploma is an internationally recognized certification. It can strengthen university applications, provide college credit, and validate years of language study. But perhaps its greatest value lies elsewhere.

It demonstrates that an individual can engage with ideas across cultures, adapt to different intellectual expectations, and communicate effectively in more than one language—and in more than one way of thinking.

At ISB, that is what bilingual education is truly about. Not simply code-switching: Mind-switching.

About the Author:  Pascal Lepesqueux is the Chair of the Outreach Program at ISB, a department that brings ISB expertise to the general public. With more than 20 years of experience teaching immersion in the U.S. to young people and adult learners, he has developed a keen interest in international education, multilingualism, and language acquisition questions. He also manages the French proficiency certifications at ISB and is busy developing online training solutions for candidates.