THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION 2011

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM

INFORMATION

SESSION

2011

DESCRIPTION

The French Immersion Program has been designed for students who have little or no French language skills.

The entry point of the Early French Immersion Program is at the Primary level.

The program extends to Grade 12.

CANADIAN MADE!

The origins of the French Immersion Program date back to 1965 in St. Lambert, Montréal, Québec.

Research shows that the Immersion experience is the most effective way for children to become functionally bilingual without having adverse effects on their social, academic or personal development.

CURRICULUM

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

Research

Many language concepts and skills learned and developed in French are similar to those applied in English. Studies supported by CASLT (Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers) have shown that bilingual students “appear to have a number of intellectual advantages” such as the ability to think abstractly and problem solve at an earlier age.

(http://www.unb.ca/slec/hot_topics/l2_children.html)

LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Students acquire French language skills in an environment modeled by the teacher’s oral proficiency, literacy awareness and pedagogical knowledge of second language acquisition strategies. The integration of subjects taught in French is also conducive to language acquisition.

NOVA SCOTIA

The Early French Immersion Program began in 1977.

The Late Immersion Program (Grade 7-12) began in 1985.

EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION (P-12)

Students receive a French Immersion Certificate upon completion of requirements.

FRENCH IMMERSION CERTIFICATE

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

EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION WITHIN HALIFAX REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD

As of September 2010, HRSB has 33 schools (elementary, junior high and senior high schools) offering Early French Immersion.

Early French Immersion

Schools The Halifax Regional School Board offers the Early French Immersion Program at the following designated schools: ELEMENTARY Ash Lee Jefferson Astral Drive Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea Bell Park Academic Centre Burton Ettinger Chebucto Heights Gertrude Parker Grosvenor - Wentworth Hammonds Plains John W. MacLeod - Fleming Tower Kingswood LeMarchant-St. Thomas Madeline Symonds (Gr. 6FI) Ridgecliff (Gr. 6FI) Rockingham Seaside Shannon Park St. Catherine’s St. Joseph’s - A. McKay Sunnyside Tallahassee Community Tantallon JUNIOR HIGH Eastern Passage Elizabeth Sutherland Fairview Gorsebrook Madeline Symonds Oxford Prince Arthur SENIOR HIGH Dartmouth Halifax West J. L. Ilsley Citadel

Late French Immersion Schools

The Halifax Regional School Board offers the Late French Immersion Program at the following designated schools:

JUNIOR HIGH

A. J. Smeltzer Graham Creighton Astral Drive Harold T. Barrett Bedford Junior Herring Cove Bedford South Leslie Thomas Brookside Lockview Caledonia Madeline Symonds Eastern Passage Oyster Pond Ellenvale Ridgecliff Five Bridges Ross Road Gaetz Brook Sackville Heights Georges P. Vanier Sir Robert Borden

SENIOR HIGH Auburn Drive Halifax West Charles P. Allen Lockview Cole Harbour Millwood Eastern Shore Sackville Sir John A. MacDonald

Integrated Core French Schools

Duncan MacMillan Musquodoboit

Intensive French Schools

Sheet Harbor William King

FRENCH SECOND LANGUAGE

PROGRAMS

2010-2011

The Halifax Regional School Board encourages all students to develop language skills which will assist them to live and function more effectively in Canada, a bilingual country.

The Halifax Regional School Board offers four French Second Language Programs:

Core French: Grades 4-12 Integrated Core French: Grades 7-

12 Early French Immersion: Grades

Primary-12 Late French Immersion: Grades 7-

12 Intensive French Pilots: Grade 6 at

William King and Sheet Harbour

The French Immersion Program is available for students who live

within designated boundaries of the Halifax Regional School Board and have registered by March 1, 2008. If

you have any questions regarding your child’s eligibility please contact

your school’s principal.

Home address and the HRSB Creating School Populations Policy determine eligibility and placement in the French Immersion Programs.

Early and Late French Immersion Programs in Halifax

Regional School Board The French Immersion Programs are offered at designated schools as alternate approaches to learning French, one of Canada’s two official languages. The programs are specifically designed for non-francophone students to acquire a high degree of proficiency in the French language with subjects taught in French. The learning outcomes of the French curriculum are the same as those of the English program. Graduates of the French Immersion programs will be able to: communicate effectively in oral and

written French; achieve expected learning outcomes of

courses taught in French and in English; communicate effectively in oral and

written English; demonstrate logic and critical thinking

skills; demonstrate social and cooperative

learning skills; demonstrate a better understanding of

their own and other’s cultural heritage and identity, as well as an appreciation of francophone cultures.

Intensive French Program for Grade 6

Intensive French provides more time for language development and opportunities for grade 6 students to access an enhanced French second language program where other options are not available. Students receive approximately 70% of their classroom instruction in French for five months. This program is only offered at William King and Sheet Harbor.

Early French Immersion

Program The entry point to the Early French Immersion program is at the Primary level and the program extends to Grade 12. Students have a minimum of 80% French instruction in the elementary program, approximately 70% in junior high and a minimum of 50% French instruction (9 of 18 credits) at the senior high level. Formal English instruction is introduced in Grade 3. In order to obtain the French Immersion Certificate, students in Grade 12 Early French Immersion must: successfully complete French Language

Arts in Grades 10, 11 and 12; successfully complete a minimum of two

courses instructed in French each year; successfully complete a total of nine

courses instructed in French, representing 50% of the number of credits required for graduation.

The courses offered in the Early French Immersion Program will be as described in the Nova Scotia Public School Programs document.

Late French Immersion

Program

The entry point to the Late French Immersion program is at Grade 7 and the program extends to Grade 12. Students in the junior high program have a minimum of 70% French instruction and continue with a minimum of 50% French instruction in the senior high school programs. In order to obtain the French Immersion Certificate, students in Grade 12 Late French Immersion must: successfully complete French Language

Arts in Grades 10, 11 and 12; successfully complete a minimum of two

courses instructed in French each year; successfully complete a total of nine

courses instructed in French, representing 50% of the number of credits required for graduation.

The courses offered in the Late Immersion Program will be as described in the Nova Scotia Public School Programs document.

Core French Program

The Halifax Regional School Board provides all students with the opportunity to learn French as a second language by offering a Core French program from Grade 4-12. This program enables students to reach a functional level of skills in understanding and communicating in French.

PERCENTAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN FRENCH (IMMERSION PROGRAM)

Primary- Grade 2 90%-100% (varies due to Music and Physical

Education) Grades 3-6 80%- 85% (formal

instruction in English is introduced)

Grades 7-9 60%- 75% Grades 10-12 50% (minimum of nine

credits taught in French)

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES

All students should have equal access to special services where available.

It is recommended that there is a close working relationship among

the Immersion teachers, the Resource teachers and the parent(s)/ guardian(s).

WHEN CONSIDERING THE EARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM…FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM…

• How developed are your child’s first language skills?• Does your child appear to be developing in terms of social and emotional growth?• Does your child have positive self-esteem?• Does your child have any major perceptual or auditory problems?• Can your child adjust easily to unfamiliar situations?

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSIONPROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO . . .

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

LISTENING . . .

uses teaching strategies that foster a

positive classroom environment. helps the students achieve success in

French while learning the core subject matter.

SPEAKING . . .

• permits students to engage in meaningful & constructive dialogue.

Visualization Questioning Making Connections Predictions Analyzing

READING . . . FOR COMPRENSIONREADING . . . FOR COMPRENSION

•Ideas•Conventions•Word Choice•Sentence Structure•Organization Écrivains à l’œuvre 4-9Écrivains à l’œuvre 4-9 (Writers in Action)(Writers in Action)

This initiative is helping students across the province to develop strong written skills

WRITING . . . WITH A PURPOSEWRITING . . . WITH A PURPOSE

ENGLISH INSTRUCTION . . .ENGLISH INSTRUCTION . . .

• begins in Grade 3 and students readily transfer acquired reading strategies and skills.

MATHEMATICS

• Students develop problem solving abilities using a variety of communicative strategies.

SOCIAL STUDIES . . .

enable and encourage students to examine isssues, respond critically and creatively, and make informed decisions as fellow citizens of an increasingly global community.

SCIENCES

• Students will construct knowledge and understanding of concepts in life science, physical science, and Earth and space science, and apply these understandings to interpret, integrate and extend their knowledge - (GCO 3 – Department of Education P-6 Learning

Outcomes Document)

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

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

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

enable all students to solve problems individually and collaboratively.

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

encourage personal development of skills, attitudes and values.

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

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

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

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

THE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO …

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

THE FRENCH IMMERSION TEACHER . . .

has an excellent command of French (written and spoken).

teaches the subjects according to the established Provincial guidelines.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT . . .

• is ongoing and collaborative (English & French).

PREPARATION AND SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

French section of community libraries. HRSB website and French links. French language television. Extracurricular and community activities

which promote French language and culture. Read to your child in English to foster a love

of language.

USEFUL LINKS

•www.cpf.ca (Canadian Parents for French)•http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/bgromick/

(To enroll or not to enroll . . . that is the questions)•www.caslt.org (Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers)

Primary Orientation Dates

Monday, February 7th – Primary FRENCH IMMERSION meeting in Library from 6:30 – 7:00 pm. Presentations by classroom French Immersion teachers, administration, and Canadian Parents for French. This meeting is designed to give a brief overview of the Early French Immersion Program .

Thursday, May 12th – Primary Orientation at school for ALL PRIMARY STUDENTS AND PARENTS, both English and French Immersion, who will be entering school for the 2011-2012 school year. Parents are asked to bring their children to school for 9:30. This session is designed to allow Teachers to have an opportunity to meet your children and get to know them through a variety of activities setup in their classrooms. Parents will meet with school staff and be provided with an overview of Primary expectations and general routines of the school. Parents will also be given an opportunity to visit classrooms and join their children for a small snack. All should be completed by 11:00.Thursday, June 9th - Second visit for ALL PRIMARY STUDENTS AND PARENTS. This day will run from 9:30 until 11:00 and is designed to go over the activity packet provided by The Learning Partnership.