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French as a Second Language

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An Introduction to French as a Second Language

Grand Erie District School Board offers several approaches to French language instruction:

  • The mandatory program of Core French, beginning in Grade 4 in elementary schools
  • An optional single-track French Immersion program from Kindergarten to Grade 8, which is available at École Dufferin School and École Confédération School
  • An optional dual-track French Immersion program at Burford District Elementary School (Kindergarten to
    Grade 5)/Paris Central School (Grade 6 to 8) or Caledonia Centennial School (Kindergarten to Grade 3)/River Heights School (Kindergarten to Grade 4-8), as well as Lakewood Elementary School and Walsh Public School (Kindergarten to Grade 8)
  • An optional Secondary French Immersion program (Grades 9 to 12) available at Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School or North Park Collegiate and Vocational School; and,
  • An optional Extended French Program at Simcoe Composite School (Grade 9 and 10) in 2021-22.

Core French, Extended French, and French Immersion programs differ in intensity, but share a common purpose: to develop a student’s oral communication (listening and speaking), reading, and writing skills in French language.

Core, Extended and French Immersion programs provide benefits to students regardless of whether or not they plan post-secondary studies in French. There are, however, significant differences in focus as well as in the language competency expected of students.

Generally, the choice of program a student selects is determined by the total number of hours of French instruction accumulated by the end of Grade 8 (600 for Core French and a minimum of 3,800 for French Immersion). The longer exposure to French instruction provided by the Immersion program allows students to acquire a greater knowledge and understanding of the language as well as greater effectiveness in its use.
 

Core French

The Core French program is offered from Grades 4-8 in every Grand Erie school for a minimum of 200 minutes per five-day cycle.

In Grand Erie secondary schools, a student must earn at least one credit in French to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma. In Grades 10-12, students may choose an additional academic Core French course each year.

Both the Ministry of Education and Grand Erie District School Board value the Core French program, which provides students with relevant learning experiences to develop their oral communication, reading, and writing skills in French.

Students in the Core French program will demonstrate a working understanding of information heard and read. They will also be able to speak in familiar situations.

French Immersion Programs

The aim of Grand Erie’s French Immersion program is to:

  • Provide a quality educational program that meets the expectations of the Ontario Curriculum, both at the elementary and secondary school level
  • Develop and refine a student’s ability to communicate (understand, speak, read and write) with confidence in the French language
  • Help students understand and appreciate Canada's francophone heritage as well as French culture and language throughout the world
  • Expand student’s knowledge of the language through the study of francophone literature and research

By the end of the four-year French Immersion program in secondary school, students will:

  • Participate easily in either language, at home, work or when travelling
  • Be able to pursue post-secondary studies, or accept professional training in either French or English
  • Be able to undertake employment in both French and English
     

Single- and Dual-Track French Immersion

Dual-Track schools offer French Immersion and English language classes, while single-track schools offer French Immersion programs only.

Single-Track French Immersion Schools Dual-Track French Immersion Schools

The longer exposure to French instruction provided by the Immersion program allows students to acquire a greater knowledge and understanding of the language as well as greater effectiveness in its use.

By the end of Grade 8, an elementary French Immersion student must accumulate a minimum of 3,800 hours of French instruction for French Immersion. In a secondary French Immersion program, students accumulate ten credits in French: four are for FSL courses; six are for other subjects in which French is the language of instruction. Secondary school grant a certificate in French Immersion if the student fulfills the requirement.
 

Extended French 

Grand Erie began to offer Extended French to Grade 9 students at Simcoe Composite Secondary School in the 2020-21 school year.  In each subsequent year, this program will continue to grow if there is sufficient student demand.

In Extended French in secondary, students are taught French as a subject and French serves as the language of instruction in at least one other subject. At the secondary level there are academic courses in Extended French in Grades 9 & 10, and university preparation courses in Grades 11 & 12. Students accumulate seven credits in French: four are for FSL courses; three are for other subjects in which French is the language of instruction. Schools may grant a certificate in Extended French if the student fulfills the requirement. 
 

Diplome d’etudes en langue francaise (DELF)

Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) is an internationally recognized language exam that Grade 12 students whose first language is not French and who are enrolled in Core, Extended or French Immersion can take to assess their language proficiency.  The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) provides a comprehensive overview of the competencies that French language learners need to develop in order to communicate and interact effectively.  Within that framework there are levels of language proficiency, starting at the basic level A1, continuing to A2, B1, and B2 (which is considered independent).   In Grand Erie District School Board, we offer this opportunity annually to all our students in Core and French Immersion Programs. In the future, this opportunity will be offered to Grade 12 students who are registered in Extended French.
 

French Immersion Program Boundaries

City of Brantford

County of Brant

Haldimand County

Norfolk County