Mabou Loiseau: The extraordinary 8-year-old Genius who Speaks 8 Languages & Plays 8 Instruments

Describing Mabou Loiseau as a child prodigy is an understatement. 

This adorable little 8-year-old not only speaks 8 different languages but is skilled in playing 8 instruments.

At only 8-years-old Mabou Loiseau speaks English, but she can fluently read, write and speak French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Haitian Creole, Japanese, and she even knows sign language. Mabou also plays the piano, violin, guitar, harp, clarinet, conga, drums and the flute.  Although she learned majority of those skills while at DoReMi School of Music Arts & Languages in Laurelton, New York, she is truly a product of genetic greatness.

Mabou reached national spotlight after she was featured on the Katie Couric show. When asked where she got her talent from, the 8-year-old  polyglot said, “I was born smart, duh!” In all seriousness, she may be right about that. Mabou’s household naturally consists of three languages. In an interview, Mabou’s mother, Esther Loiseau, stated:

“My husband spoke Haitian Creole fluently so he only spoke to Mabou in Haitian Creole. My sister, who lived with us for some time, spoke Spanish fluently, so she only spoke to Mabou in Spanish. I spoke French fluently, so I spoke to her only in French”

But when her daughter was only a year-and-a-half, she began repeating French words that had yet to be taught to her. Astounding enough, she knew the meaning of those words as well and this inspired Esther to further cultivate and invest in her daughter’s gift. A typical day for Mabou would drive us ordinary people insane. Esther further explained  that,

8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Russian speaking Nanny

11a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Lunch break / other activity

1 p.m.  - 5 p.m.:  Arabic speaking Nanny

5 p.m.  - 6 p.m.:  Activity of choice

6 p.m.  - 7 p.m.:  Music lesson (harp, guitar, violin and/ or piano)

8 p.m.  - 9 p.m.:  Swimming lessons

No worries, Esther makes sure that she leaves enough time for Mabou to enjoy a normal childhood as well. However, Mabou is a sponge to learning and enjoys her daily activities.

“I want to be a firefighter, and I want to be a doctor, and I want to be a dancer, and I want to be a princess,” Mabou said on her webpage. “And I want to be an actor, and I want to be a musician, and I want to be a singer, and I want to be a veterinarian, and I want to be a mom.”

Next on Mabou’s list is learning Japanese.

Awesome!