Just wondering if anybody has experience with French Immersion. Thinking about putting my girls in. We have some that go 1-8. How many classes are full french? Is my child gonna suffer with her English? Do you work on English at home? I just love that it gives so many more options in life.
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As a teacher (granted I teach English stream) I would recommend late immersion if possible (moving the kids into immersion at the grade 5 or later level). I didn't go through immersion myself but knowing people who do it seems like those who were late entry had far more positive experiences.
I know programs differ hugely depending on where you are in the country so it might be totally different where you are but here the students start speaking English and slowly their day becomes all French with the exception of English Language Arts which will always be in English.
I also used to totally agree with the more options thing but I now I'm kind of on the fence. There are not many things in life that actually REQUIRE French so a child who isn't fluent won't be banned from things. Teaching is one example where being immersion really helps because it is very hard to find fluent teachers.
I also caution against it if you are not comfortable using French at home and helping your child in both French and English. If you are willing to learn French or pay for tutors then that is one thing but if not it might be a struggle when you can't read the homework with your children. I only say this because I know some parents who have really felt frustrated and left out of their child's education because they can't read the work the child is doing.
Any ways please take all of this with a grain of salt as it's just my personal views.
I don't have direct experience with sending my kids to immersion, no where near old enough. But I myself went to late immersion and it was both awful and useless. The French instruction I'd received prior to late immersion was not adequate enough to help me when I first started and I, and many of my peers, struggled to get by. I had history classes where I would only get snippets of what was being said and I remember a science test which I'd studied well for, but failed based on outright panicking because I'd forgotten my dictionary (which we were allowed for that class) and not being able to remember the French terms. In contrast, I found the Early Immersion students seemed much better adjusted to me and, from what I knew, were more likely to be bilingual in the end than others I knew in Late Immersion.
I was a very good student prior to going into late immersion but my grades really suffered. I came out of it improved in French (though no where near fluent), but bitter, very confused about early Canadian history and worst of all hating French immensely. I subsequently lost any gains I made in the language and am still struggling to get it back. It doesn't help that my experience has made speaking French feel like a stressful thing to do.
In my recollection all classes were in French except English, Arts classes, Home Ec. and possibly gym.
I am, without question, putting my kids in Early French Immersion. French is absolutely necessary where I live and, based on my experience, I think the transition to a mostly French environment is easier when younger and with a more pliable mind.
I am concerned about their English instruction and plan to keep an eye on it. I know some people have reported problems with their child's English because of immersion so we have to be careful, but it's definitely not always the case. I have a friend who started in Early French Immersion but in grade 2 her mother sent her to a French School, completely French (and no, they had no French background). Because of that she is fluently bilingual but her English didn't suffer - she now had a PhD in English.
I agree with Bluedaisy that you have to consider whether or not you can help with home work and how much of an impact that will have.
Hi - here to give you another perspective. Keep in mind I am a French teacher in Ontario. Here having French is an incredible asset in any job, even something a basic as waitressing, and positions as a government employee require it high enough up. I would absolutely put them in French immersion but wouldn't put them in late immersion. Most language development happens in the early years of life so starting French early would be of great benefit.
Students' attitude towards French also changes as they age (generally for the worse) so they may be reluctant to start Franais tardif.
I doubt you will see a problem with English language development unless your child was going to end up having difficulty in that area any way. Just keep reading, speaking, and writing English at home. My boys are in immersion and learne to read and write English without ever being formally "taught"
Last pt - I would echo that you may want to try to learn with your child/have them teach you what they are learning (honestly that's just good teacher/parent teamwork anyway) r consider a tutor if necessary. Let me know if you have any questions - I have experience teaching/tutoring/and learning in the extended/core/ and immersion systems!
Post by wineandcake on Apr 17, 2015 10:23:06 GMT -5
My kiddo isn't nearly old enough for school so I have no experience sending a kid, but I did French immersion. I went right to FI in Jk and continued through highschool. I never had a problem keeping up, and honestly the French immersion students in my highschool we're always top of our English taught classes as well. My parents don't speak a word of French, it was never an issue for us and I never fell behind or required a parents help - the teachers were great about outside help and really taught us well in class. We did everything in French until grade 3 except for English class, after that we switched to English math and art as well. In grade 6 I believe we went to half the day English, half French and it stayed that way until grade 11 when we switched to 6 classes in English and 2 in French (French and religion). I went on to nursing school and now that I live up northern ontario I use my French all the time at work, half of my patients are French and its nice to communicate in their first language and be understood. DH always says how much he wishes his parents had sent him to French immersion school and is asking me to teach him French.
I speak French to DS at home occasionally and his nursery school teachers are French so he learns some there. DH uses his limited French and teaches him how to count in French and tells him random French words (cat, Dog, bird, etc). He will definitely be going to French school when he is school age, I think it's such a great skill and he is such a smart boy that i think he can handle the 'challenge'. If it gets to be too hard I have no problem switching him provided he makes a solid effort and we have done what we can to help him.
Post by andtheheartbreakers on Apr 20, 2015 11:18:54 GMT -5
I was put in French immersion in grade one and continued through to grade 12. I can't even express how grateful I was that I had the opportunity to learn another language. My parents don't speak a word of French, and I still remember them helping me with my homework and it never being an issue that they couldn't speak the language. I know for my program it was all French up until grade four when we got a ELA class. Then once we hit 7-9 all our main courses were French, we had a ELA class and then all our options were in English. Grades 10-12 we took FLA and social studies in French but the rest of our classes were English.
I went on to apply to a French campus at my university and did my nursing degree in a bilingual program. I got more scholarships because I was in a language minority and my class sizes were 9 people vs 200-300 people. I was able to get an amazing education, and experiences that would have been completely closed off to me if I hadn't had the opportunity to be in French immersion.
I use my French occasionally at work, and every time it comes up I am immensely thankful that I can use it. After my mat leave I'm planning to find a new job in a Francophone part of my city where I use my French more regularly. My kids will 100% be placed in French Immersion.
My advice would be to not deny them this amazing opportunity because you have no idea when/how it will be useful. Maybe it won't, maybe they will go on to do nothing with it, but maybe it will make all the difference in their life and career path. And if you try it and you notice it's not working for them you can always pull them and put them in the English program.
Post by princessvespa1 on Apr 21, 2015 10:55:48 GMT -5
We just signed my son up for full french immersion in the fall! I have my french language (not immersion, just the classes we took every year) up to and including grade 11 so I'm hoping that I'll pick some of it back up with him.
My 4 year old is going to be starting French immersion in sept. They way the program was explained to me was its a program that is designed that the kids aren't reading, writing , talking or watching French tv at home. It's meant for families with English speaking parents. It's not a francophone program.
I was told that when they start it's mainly in English however they will never say something that they can physically touch in English. So chair would always be in French.
I speak no French. Thr school has resources to help the parents when required. I figure by the time he really needs help in school I can get a student from the high school to help if needed or it will force me to learn French myself.
I look at it as this, if he doesn't do well in it I can always pull him out. But your always put him into it in later
We've decided to go for it. It won't be for a while. But there is a French immersion school near my mom that starts at grade 1. I like the look of it. And if I work my mom can pick her up
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May 25th- Beta #1 369;May 27th- Beta #2 798 Baby girl born Jan 23, 9lbs 3oz, 21 1/4" long
May 27th-Beta #1 80; May 29th- Beta #2 304; May 31st- Beta #3 860
Jan 28, 8lbs 2oz, 20.5" long
Growing up where I did, there was no immersion program. My kids have the opportunity to attend french immersion and so they have been enrolled.
In our school, JK is conducted in English. JK is a big transition for many kids so this makes a great deal of sense. French is introduced in SK. From SK to grade 4, all classroom material is conducted in French. Gym class is in English. After grade 4, math and science is conducted in English.
As of now, the program only runs to grade 8. I am hoping there will be a high school option when the time comes. DS1 will be entering grade 3 next year and DS2 grade 1. I have high hopes that they will be proficient in French by the end of grade 8 and will be able to retain those language skills into adulthood.
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