Parent Information Meetings for French Immersion Programs
To find out more about French Immersion opportunities in our schools, please attend the meeting which pertains to your student! Meetings are held each Spring (usually March) before registration is held. Dates will be posted here.
Our Early Immersion (Kindergarten through to Grade 5) program is at Bastion Elementary/Ecole Elementaire Bastion (12th Ave. NE, Salmon Arm)
Early Immersion information meeting is on Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7 p.m. at Bastion Elementary
Our Late Immersion (Grades 6-8) program is at L'Ecole Intermediare/Shuswap Middle School (171-30th St. SE, Salmon Arm)
Late Immersion information meeting is on Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7 p.m. at Shuswap Middle School
Please Note: Transportation to and from the French Immersion programs is the responsibility of the parent. It may be possible to ride the bus but it is not an absolute. Please contact the transportation department at (250) 804-7890 for further information.
REGISTRATION
Early Immersion (Kindergarten and Grade 1) registration on April 4, 2012 from 7 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at the District Education Centre, #110 - 2960 Okanagan Ave. SE, Salmon Arm. Parents or immediate relative must register child. Please bring child's birth certificate. If you have missed this deadline please contact Bastion Elementary at 832-3741 to check for available spots in the program.
Late Immersion (Grade 6) registration will be on April 4, 2012 from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. at the District Education Centre, #110 - 2960 Okanagan Ave. SE, Salmon Arm. Parents or immediate relative must register child. If you have missed this deadline please contact Shuswap Middle School at 832-6031 to discuss adding your child's name to the existing wait list.
Please Note: A wait list will be created if the total of Early Immersion advance registrations and April 6th registrations exceeds 44.
A wait list will be created if the total of Late Immersion advance registrations and April 6th registrations exceeds 60. Should registration be less than 48, a single class of 30 would be formed, leaving the remainder on a wait list. If we do not recieve 24 registrations we will not run a Late Immersion class this year.
Early Immersion
K-5
Late Immersion
Grades 6-8 as of September 2006 and expanding to secondary grades at Salmon Arm Secondary in successive years.
Frequently asked questions about Early and Late French Immersion programs
What is French Immersion?
• French Immersion is a Canadian made educational program in which a child whose first language is not French studies in French.
• French Immersion began over 30 years ago in response to parental demand; research shows that it is the most effective way for a child to become functionally bilingual.
• The level of proficiency in French will vary from child to child in the same way as performance in math-ematics, for example, will vary from child to child. Some students speak French making many mistakes while others might be mistaken for mother-tongue French speakers.
• In British Columbia, Early Immersion (EI) starts in Kindergarten or Grade 1. Late Immersion (LI) usually starts in Grade 6.
• In School District #83, Early Immersion was implemented in September 2003 and is housed at École Élé-mentaire Bastion Elementary.
• Late Immersion was implemented in September 2004 and is housed at L’École Intermédiare Shuswap Middle School
Is French Immersion for everyone?
• Immersion is suitable for children of all academic abilities. French Immersion may present an additional challenge to your child but it is not to be confused with a gifted program. It is a program developed for the specific purpose of giving Anglophone school children the opportunity to become bilingual, while still maintaining their English skills.
What are the goals of a French Immersion program?
• To develop language skills enabling students to participate easily in French conversation.
• To provide an insight into the French culture.
• To take post secondary education with French as the language of instruction.
• To gain employment using French as the work language.
• To achieve skills in all subject areas equivalent to those in the English program.
How is French Immersion taught?
• Students are taught the same curriculum as English students but the language of instruction is French.
• At first, students have limited vocabulary so teachers concentrate on language. Later as language skills de-velop the smaller details are filled in.
• The method used is very similar to that used in English as a Second Language classes, ie. a proven method-ology.
What about the students’ academic achievements?
• Research shows there is absolutely no detrimental effect on academic performance in any subject area de-spite learning in a new language.
• Larger English vocabulary as French words are often similar to English words.
• French Immersion students do better on average in all Foundation Skills Assessments; English reading, English writing and numeracy at all grade levels.
How does Late Immersion compare with Early French Immersion?
• Late French Immersion is not a continuation of Early French Immersion. It is a separate program, offered in addition to Early Immersion, which provides an alternative final entry point for English students who want to become bilingual.
• In Grade 8, the Early and Late Immersion students join together into one program. The two groups become academically cohesive during the secondary years.
Are all subjects taught in French?
• In EI, Kindergarten to Gr. 2 or 3 receive 100% instruction in French. Gr. 3 or 4 to Gr. 7 have 80% instruc-tion in French. In Gr. 8-10, 50-75% of instruction is in French, 25% in Gr.11 and 12.5% in Grade12.
• In LI, Grades 6 and 7 are taught 80-100% in French. In Gr. 8-10, 50-75% of instruction is in French, 25% in Gr.11 and 12.5% in Grade12.
Will my child learn the same things as peers in the English program?
• The French Immersion and English curricula are the same as specified by the Ministry of Education. The only difference between the two programs is the language of instruction.
What are the benefits of learning a second language?
• Develops your child’s listening and learning skills as well as self-discipline.
• Increases cognitive abilities, creating a more flexible thinker.
• Enhances his/her knowledge of and ability to communicate in his/her first language.
• Makes learning a third or fourth language much easier.
Why should I choose French Immersion for my child?
• In addition to receiving a French Immersion dogwood diploma, graduates of a full Immersion program can expect increased appreciation of other languages and cultures, enhanced career potential, a greater facility for learning other languages as well as a more global view of Canada and the world.
For any questions regarding French Immersion programs, please contact :
• The principal of École Élémentaire Bastion Elementary, 832-3741
• The principal of L’École Intermédiare Shuswap Middle, 832-6031
• The Director of Instruction at School District #83, Phone 804-7826
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