The Late French Immersion Program

Halifax Regional School Board2015-2016

Late French Immersion is a program designed for students entering into Grade 7, whose experience with the French language has been limited to elementary Core French.

What is Late French Immersion?

Students have significant advantages when they speak more than one language. Learning another language helps students:

- strengthen their problem-solving, reasoning and creative thinking skills. - develop their understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. - increase their competitiveness in an increasingly global job market. - enhance their first-language and overall literacy skills.

Why is French Second Language important?

More than 2 million English-speaking students are studying French as a subject in school.

More than 25% of young Canadians aged 18-29 are currently bilingual.

Grade 7 LFI students will take 60-75% of their courses in French.

Students are required to speak French 100% of the time!

Late French Immersion…by the numbers

The Late French Immersion Program follows the same learning outcomes as defined by the Nova Scotia English Provincial

Guides. There is however an additional component of appreciation of the French lanugauge in all subject areas.

Curriculum Outcomes

Students acquire French language skills in an environment modeled by the teacher’s oral

proficiency, literacy awareness and teaching of second language acquisition strategies.

Language Acquisition

enable all students to communicate effectively in French using listening, speaking, viewing, reading, writing and other various means of representation.

enable all students to work and study purposefully, both independently and cooperatively.

enable all students to solve problems individually and collaboratively.

encourage personal development of skills, attitudes and values.

The LFI Program is designed to…

enable all students to express their ideas and feelings in various art forms.

enable all students to locate, evaluate, adapt, create and share information using a wide range of sources and technologies.

enable all students to demonstrate a better understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritage with a particular emphasis on French speaking communities.

The LFI Program is designed to…

The best way to help your child is to be positive and supportive:• Continue to read with your child every night.• Invite your child to read with you.• Watch French television with your child. • Take advantage of French cultural activities if they exist in your area. • Encourage your child to speak French at home (but do not make it a chore).• Ask your child to talk about the school day but in the home language.

The role of the FSL parent

Parents/Guardians must be reassured that what is vital in their involvement is providing a rich and supportive environment in the child’s first language.

French Immersion Programs are specifically designed for children of parents or guardians who do not speak French.

The role of the FSL parent

As parents you need to be patient as well! Language learning takes place over a period of time.

Students will learn at different rates depending on their aptitude, work habits, motivation and organization.

The role of the FSL parent

French section of community libraries. HRSB website, French links, LFI Teacher websites French language television. Extracurricular and community activities which

promote French language and culture. Encourage your child to read in French. Visit various Acadian regions of the Maritimes

Ideas for parents to help students

How is your child’s social and emotional development? Does your child have a positive self-esteem? Does your child have major perceptual or auditory

problems? Can your child adjust easily to unfamiliar situations?

When considering

Each Spring, Grade 7 students participate in a 3 day trip where they are totally immersed in an authentic French environment.

They interact in French with other HRSB Late French Immersion students, and enjoy an educational cultural event.

Trip to Université Sainte-Anne

Students receive a French Immersion Certificate at the end of grade 12 upon completion of course requirements.

Upon completion, students should be able to:- function in a French-speaking community- accept a job where French is the working language- pursue university or college education in French

At High School Completion…

Canadian Parents for French www.cpf.ca

FSL Homework Toolbox http://www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca/index.php

French Homework Tips for Parents

http://education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/youcanhelp.aspx

BonPatron (created in Canada) www.bonpatron.com

Helpful Links