Will Your Child Be Successful in Early French Immersion?

The answer to that question is not easy, especially when you consider the very young age at which your child will begin the Early Immersion program. It is often difficult to assess at that point what kind of learner your child will be.

Daniel Demers is a parent of two children with learning disabilities, a specialist in learning disabilities, the principal of a dual-track school and the author of Learning Disabilities and French Immersion. Mr. Demers understands very well the issues related to children with learning difficulties in the French Immersion program. Demers believes that some children with learning disabilities may be successful in French Immersion if they are taught the skills and strategies that will help them to achieve maximum language learning success. However, Demers does admit that some children may not be suited for French Immersions programs. Children with severe auditory discrimination problems and those who experience a very high level of frustration in a learning environment may experience serious difficulties learning a second language.

Based on his research and experience in this field, Demers has outlined a list of what he considers to be the main characteristics of both successful and unsuccessful learners in the French Immersion program.

The Successful Student in French Immersion

1. Is verbal, likes to talk
2. Imitates easily
3. Self corrects 
4. Experiments without fear of making mistakes 
5. Is exposed to many models of good modeling (at home, in the community and in school) 
6. Readily accepts challenges 
7. Shows strengths in first language
8. Trusts 
9. Is usually attentive and focused 
10. Is willing
11. Has good auditory discrimination 
12. Has good memory and good meta-cognitive awareness
13. Has determined parental support and convinced parents

 The Unsuccessful Student in French Immersion

1. Is often a reluctant speaker
2. Imitates with difficulty
3. Doesn’t notice errors
4. Often fears making mistakes
5. Poor modeling (at home, in the community and in school)
6. Has a defeatist attitude
   Often has poor first language skills
7. Mistrusts
8. Often is inattentive and unfocused
9. Is often unwilling
10. Has poor auditory discrimination
11. Has poor memory and poor meta-cognitive awareness
12. Often has unconvinced parents who are unprepared or unwilling to help