French as a Second Language

The program is designed for children who are learning French as an Additional Language, therefore it is not expected that parents will be able to speak French. Teachers are aware of this when they send home notices or assign homework. Report cards are in English.

The French Immersion program must follow the Ontario curriculum. Materials in French cover the same basic program as in English, although perhaps in a different sequence and with an emphasis on French communication. Students work towards the same academic goals regardless of the language of instruction.

In TLDSB, explicit English instruction is offered for 40 minutes per day from grades 1-8 so that students have educational time dedicated to reading and writing in English. Mathematics is also taught in English from grades 1-8. As parents/guardians, it is important that you read stories in English at home and expose your child to English songs, nursery rhymes, and books that will enrich his or her first language learning experience, just as you would if they were in the English program.

Evaluations of French as an Additional Language (FAL) programs across Canada have indicated that although there are certain lags in English language skills for the first few years due to the additional language being taught for large percentages of the day, children in French Immersion very quickly catch up to and keep pace with children in an English program.

Standard French vocabulary and structures are taught. A variety of accents exist in all languages; during a school career a child will be exposed to teachers from various parts of the world who are models of well-spoken, grammatically correct French.

French as an Additional Language is available in most urban centres in Canada. A full searchable directory is published by the Ministry of Ontario.

From the early stages of the program, parents can be of great assistance by being supportive of the program. They can talk about new experiences and read regularly to their child in English. Most often if a child is experiencing difficulty in a particular subject area, the confusion lies with the concept, not the language. Discuss and explain the concept in English.

It is important for our learners to be continuously supported at home no matter the program they are in (Core, Extended or French Immersion). The greatest asset to any learning that happens in the school is the partnership and support that exist with home.

As with children in the regular English program, help will be available from the classroom teacher in consultation with the school’s special education resource teacher (SERT). Feel free to discuss any concerns you have with your child’s teacher. As with any problem solving scenario or intervention, it is important for the school team and the family to work together.

• Explain how French Immersion works. Help your child understand that learning is gradual. Be supportive of the program and give your child a chance to adjust to it.
• Read to your child in English.
• Listen to your child read simple French books and stories, as language skills developed at home are transferable to school.
• Provide encouragement and positive support, e.g., praise your child’s learning in French, encourage effective work habits and organization with assignments.
• Maintain good school-home communication, by meeting with teachers to discuss your child’s progress.

At first, since 60% of their instructional day will be in French, students may be a bit behind in English or other home languages as they learn to manage an additional language. However, students will continue to receive daily explicit instruction in English (40 minutes) and will also receive mathematics instruction in English.

Research shows that by about Grades 5 or 6, most children in French Immersion begin to close the learning gaps and by the time they reach grade 8 they have caught up to their English stream counterparts.

Your child will learn to speak, read and write in French using the same language development as in English. Language is made up of sounds; in French, some of the sounds are different. The French Immersion and Core French programs are exciting and challenging and will benefit your entire family.

Transportation is available to students enrolled in the French Immersion program within their designated French Immersion catchment area. The catchment areas for TLDSB French Immersion schools are based on the location of the students’ home schools.

For more information, please refer to the Board’s Transportation Information page.

Visit the Registration page to register your child for French Immersion.