French Immersion Kindergarten
January 7, 2011
French Immersion Kindergarten
General Information and Q&A
Introduction to French Immersion in the North Vancouver School District
In Canada, French Immersion has been an established, researched, and documented national program for over thirty years. With Early French Immersion, French is the vehicle for teaching, not a subject studied in isolation, and serves as the language of instruction .
Purpose
The purpose of the French Immersion Program is to provide students with the skills they need to communicate in a second language and an opportunity to achieve a meaningful level of functional bilingualism. Knowledge of a second language strengthens first-language skills and enhances the cognitive and social development of students. French Immersion at the Kindergarten level serves as a gentle introduction to the language that helps prepare students for the Grade 1 curriculum.
Features and benefits of French Immersion Kindergarten
• Delivers the BC Curriculum in French
• Leads explorative self-expression through creative thought, language, movement, music and drama.
• Develops oral comprehension through verbal and non-verbal cues
• Fosters critical and creative thinking skills as students figure out a new code of communication
• Begins to foster new language development and pronunciation accuracy at the optimal time in a child’s life
• Promotes Canada’s other official language
• Encourages understanding of the cultures of French-speaking societies
Registration procedures
Please see French Immersion Kindergarten Registration Information.
Canadian Parents for French
Information about French Immersion programming is available on the CPF (Canadian parents for French) website.
Click here for more information about school locations and the Kindergarten to Grade 12 French Immersion Program.
Q&A
How do I know this program is right for my child?
The French Immersion program is designed to provide non-francophone children with a high degree of proficiency in the French language. It is inclusive and provides opportunities for all to learn through a communicative approach. This approach is conducive to second language acquisition and learning. Even if students may not understand every word used by the teacher, they understand what is meant and what they are supposed to do. Children in the program come from families whose heritage language varies and who recognize the value of having communicative skills in both official languages.
When does the curriculum introduce English language instruction?
English Language Arts begins in Grade3. English instruction represents 20% of the French Immersion program from grades 3-7.
Do I need to speak French at home to help my child succeed in French Immersion?
Neither a child entering the program nor the parents or guardians needs to have knowledge of the French language or culture. Communication between home and school is always done in English.
What kind of influence might French Immersion have on the rest of my child’s education?
Research and provincial testing demonstrate that French Immersion students perform as well as or better than their unilingual peers in the content areas of curriculum, including English Language Arts.
What is the approach to teaching and learning French in the Kindergarten year?
A child’s introduction to French in Kindergarten is undemanding and natural in approach. Even if children continue to express themselves in English, the teacher speaks French most of the time. Through gestures, body language, expressive tone, visual support, repetition, songs, rhyming games, short stories and play acting, children develop early learning, literacy and numeracy skills. They develop increasing confidence as they begin to recognize sounds and words and start using them.
Can students in other catchment areas register for French Immersion Kindergarten?
French Immersion is a district program. Registration at Kindergarten and grade one is processed centrally. If requested places for French Immersion elementary schools are over-subscribed, placement of non-siblings is determined by lottery.
Learn more about our Kindergarten registration procedures and deadlines here.
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