French Immersion

      French Immersion in North Vancouver

Challenge, Opportunity, Success

French Immersion is a language program designed for non-French speaking students who wish to attain a high level of proficiency in both official languages. Students are immersed in the French language within the classroom. French is used for meaningful communication and for instruction in the subject (content) areas such as math, science, social studies, art, physical education and French language arts. French Immersion is a program that is available to all children in North Vancouver School District. Knowledge of the French language is not a requirement to enrol in the program; children from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests and abilities are enrolled in the program.  There are no specific catchment areas for the French Immersion Program.  The program is reviewed regularly to provide equity of access for all children and to maintain a balanced enrolment across the school district.  French Immersion school locations and the overall program configuration may change over time due to the complex nature of fluctuations in enrolment and other factors. North Vancouver school district offers an Early French Immersion Program, as well as a Late Immersion Program.  Early French Immersion students begin the program in Kindergarten (or in some cases grade one) and continue on through to grade 12. All instruction is in French for the first three years (Kindergarten to grade 2). Formal instruction in English begins in grade 3 and represents 20% of instructional time through to grade 7. The percentage of French instruction decreases gradually as students proceed through the secondary grades. The Late Immersion Program is offered to students who have successfully completed grade 5. In Grade 8, Late French Immersion students continue the program through to Grade 12 in a secondary school with their early French Immersion peers. The goal of the North Vancouver French Immersion Program is to produce well educated bilingual students. Students in the program achieve a level of learning in all subject areas equivalent to that achieved by students in the English program. French Immersion students develop strong communication skills in both French and English. They develop a knowledge and understanding about the structure of language that will enable them to learn other languages more easily. Furthermore, French Immersion students develop a positive feeling toward the French Language and population throughout the world.