French as a Second Language Programs

Core French Immersion French language instruction

Minutes per week:

Grades 1-3 = 160

Grades 4-5 = 200

Grades 6-8 = 160

French is the language of instruction

% of total instructional time:

Grades 1-3 = 85%

Grades 4-8 = 50%

Early entry: grade 1 Early entry: grade 1

Available in both elementary

and secondary

Available in elementary with a

secondary pathway in place

French Immersion ClassroomProgram Delivery

Grade French English

1 - 3

Language

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Arts

Religion

Physical Education

4 – 8

Science

Social Studies

Physical Education

(Health/Dance)

Arts

Religion

Family Life

Math

Music

Language

Curriculum:For Subjects Taught in French

Students will be taught the Ontario Curriculum

Expectations in each grade are as outlined in the English-

language subject curriculum documents

Learning resources provided in French align with the Ontario

English language curriculum.

Students will be expected to achieve the English language

curriculum expectations before the end of Grade 8

Assessment and Evaluation of students is consistent with

Board procedures and practices for all students

Is the French Immersion Programright for my child?

Research suggests that children who are

successful in French Immersion are:

Risk takers

Interested in learning

Attending school regularly

Positive in their attitude toward school

Able to communicate well verbally in their first language

Able to read at grade level or beyond

Effective listeners

Capable of good memory skills

Application Process

1. All students interested in the French Immersion program must apply online by completing and submitting the YCDSB French Immersion on-line application form at www.ycdsb.ca by February 4th, 2015. If you are experiencing any difficulty accessing the on-line application, please contact the school.

2. In the placement process, student applications will be prioritized as follows:

• Siblings of students presently in the French Immersion program

• Students within the English school boundary of the French immersion school

• Students within the school’s French Immersion boundary

• Students outside of the French Immersion boundary but within the York Region.

Application Process

1. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available openings, a public lottery process will be conducted here at 5:00 p.m. on February 10th, 2015.

2. Approved applicants will be notified by the school between

February 13th – 17th, 2015.

5. Approved applicants must register at the school no later than February 24th, 2015, to confirm their child’s placement.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

YORK CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOLBOARD :: Collaborative Learning Inspired By Jesus

1. Why Early French Immersion (EFI)?

Research shows that Early Immersion leads to the highest fluency in French

1. How does the French Immersion program impact student achievement in other subjects such as mathematics?

Research indicates that the performance of French Immersion students in other subjects is equal to the performance of students in the English program.

1. How do students perform on standard provincial assessments (EQAO) in grades 3 and 6?

French Immersion schools exempt students from writing the grade 3 EQAO test in English and write only the mathematics section in French.

Across the province, results show that schools with French Immersion Programs tend to exceed the provincial and board average on the grade 6 EQAO test in English.

4. Will my child’s English skills suffer ?

There is a certain lag in English Language Arts in

grades 1-3, specifically spelling skills in English.

However, the gap is minimized with the introduction of

English in grade 4.

5. What type of French will my child be learning?

Standard French vocabulary and structures are taught. A variety of accents exists in all languages; during a school career a child will probably be exposed to teachers from various parts of the world who are models of well-spoken, standardized French.

6. Will my child be bilingual after grade 8?

No. A young person who has completed an elementary French Immersion Program often appears quite comfortable and competent in the French language. While this is expected, students are not considered to be functionally bilingual until the end of grade 12.

7. Is it important for someone at home to speak French? The program is designed for children of non-French speaking families. All communication from the school to parents will be in English, including report cards.

8. How may I help my child with homework when I do not speak French?

While it may be helpful, it is not necessary, for parents to speak French. Research studies confirm that children achieve greater academic success when parents read daily to their child in the child’s first language.

Currently, all FSL students and parents in YCDSB have free access to Voila’ Learning, an online French homework help site.

9. What will happen if my child experiences difficulties in French Immersion?

The classroom teacher will provide additional assistance to the student. If this does not address the difficulties, then the classroom teacher will consult with the special education teacher, principal, and parent to discuss a plan of support. If special education intervention is recommended, then the support will be delivered in English.

10. How can I learn more about French Immersion research?

The following website links provide information on French Immersion research studies:

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE) Immersion Education for the Millennium: What We Have Learned from 30 Years of Research on Second Language Immersion by Jim Cummings

http://www.carla.umn.edu/cobaltt/modules/strategies/ CUMMINS/cummins.pdf

University of Michigan:

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.hess/research_on_french- immersion_programs