French as a Second Language

Core French Program

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) offers Core French (CF) from Grades 4 to 8, as well as in secondary school.

Facts:

Elementary students receive 200 minutes of French each week (approximately 600 hours by the end of Grade 8).
Secondary students study French for 375 minutes each week (one semester).
Secondary students must earn one credit in French to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma to graduate.

The following are sample expectations from the Ontario Curriculum for French as a Second Language:

Listening

To understand: determine meaning in a variety of oral French texts, using appropriate listening strategies.
To interact: interpret messages accurately while interacting in French for a variety of purposes and with diverse audiences.

Speaking

Converse with a variety of simple expressions to talk about familiar topics.
Speak with a variety of vocabulary and expressions to discuss ideas, feelings, and opinions.

Reading

Identify the purpose(s) and characteristics of a variety of text forms (fictional, informational, graphic, and media forms).

Writing

Write in French in a variety of forms (example: journal, emails, registration forms, personal letters, etc).
Use knowledge of vocabulary, language conventions, and stylistic elements to communicate clearly and effectively.

Elementary French Immersion Program

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) offers French Immersion (FI) from Grades 1 to 8. See the table below for a list of designated schools that offer the program:

Area	School and grades available	Grades taught in French	Contact
Bracebridge	Monck Public School (K-8)	1 to 8	705-645-9986
Haliburton	Stuart Baker Elementary School (K-3)	1 to 3	705-457-1342
Haliburton	J. Douglas Hodgson Elementary School (4-8)	4 to 8	705-457-2922
Huntsville	Huntsville Public School (K-8)	6 to 8	705-789-2318
Huntsville	Riverside Public School (K-8)	1 to 5*	705-789-2282
Lindsay	Central Senior School (7-8)	7 to 8	705-324-4352
Lindsay	Leslie Frost Public School (K-6)	1 to 6	705-324-5602

*Effective September 2025, Riverside Public School French Immersion will extend to include Grades 6.

A student’s French proficiency skills may be maximized as the amount of instructional time and level of intensity are increased. The Ontario Ministry of Education outlines the minimum requirement of a French Immersion program as 50 percent of instructional time. The amount of instructional time in French in each grade level in TLDSB is as follows:

Grades 1-6 – 60 percent of instructional time is taught in French. Math and an English language period are introduced, but the remainder of the English allotment is filled depending on staffing and school-based decisions.
Grades 7-8 – 50 percent of instructional time is taught in French. Math and an English language period are introduced, but the remainder of the English allotment is filled depending on staffing and school-based decisions.

Secondary French as an Additional Language Programs

The available FAL programs available to secondary students are dependent on which area of the Board you are located in and the number of students currently enrolled in the program.

Below is a list of programs available for the current school year:

Area	School and grades available	FSL program offered	Contact
Bracebridge	Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School	French Immersion/Extended French/Core	705-645-4496
Fenelon Falls	Fenelon Falls Secondary School	Core	705-887-2018
Gravenhurst	Gravenhurst High School	Core	705-687-2283
Haliburton	Haliburton Highlands Secondary School	French Immersion/Extended French/Core	705-457-2950
Huntsville	Huntsville High School	French Immersion/Core	705-789-5594
Lindsay	IE Weldon Secondary School	French Immersion/Core	705-324-3585
Lindsay	Lindsay Collegiate & Vocational Institute	Core	705-324-3556

DELF

The Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) is an internationally recognized test of French proficiency. It is based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which defines language proficiency along six global levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. At each level, proficiency is measured across four competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The French Ministry of National Education awards successful candidates a diploma that is valid for life and recognized by many organizations and educational institutions worldwide.

Writing the DELF exam in TLDSB

Who can sign up for the DELF exam?

In TLDSB, the DELF exam is offered every spring (April and May) in all TLDSB schools to all students enrolled in a Grade 12 French course (Core, Extended or Immersion) with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Every year, approximately 75 students across TLDSB earn their DELF diploma.

What proficiency levels are offered?

The DELF scolaire in TLDSB offers students a choice of three proficiency levels: A2, B1 and B2. The choice of level of proficiency is determined in consultation with the student’s French teacher.

When is registration?

Dates and information about the DELF exam are shared with students and parents/guardians in February of each year through the Grade 12 French teachers. Registration takes place at this time.

How do I find out more and prepare?

Students will find out about the DELF exam from their teachers in secondary beginning in Grade 9. Additional information about the DELF exam for students and parents in Ontario including how to choose your level and how to prepare can be found here:

French as a Second Language

Core French Program

Facts:

Elementary French Immersion Program

Secondary French as an Additional Language Programs

DELF

Writing the DELF exam in TLDSB

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Muskoka Education Centre

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