DOCUMENT RESUME ED 413 771 FL 024 881 AUTHOR Brehaut, Pat; Gibson, Judy TITLE Yes, You Can Help! A Guide for French Immersion Parents. INSTITUTION Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton. Language Services Branch. ISBN ISBN-0-7732-1837-8 PUB DATE 1996-00-00 NOTE 144p.; Printed on colored paper. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Educational History; Educational Objectives; Educational Resources; Elementary Secondary Education; Extracurricular Activities; Foreign Countries; *French; *Immersion Programs; Information Sources; *Parent Participation; *Parent Role; Second Language Learning; Second Language Programs; Student Characteristics; Vocabulary IDENTIFIERS Alberta; Canada; *French Language Schools ABSTRACT The guide is designed to encourage parents of children in elementary school French immersion programs to take an active role in the programs, and to provide practical information to support such participation. Sections address these topics: terminology concerning program types and other aspects of immersion instruction; the rationale for learning a second language; the evolution of immersion education and program types in Canada; issues of concern to parents if they do not speak French or are unfamiliar with immersion education; making the most of communication with teachers and school; reading and writing instruction and home practice; options in secondary school and beyond; the importance of French outside school; solving student problems and concerns; students with special needs; student and graduate views on French immersion; a brief history of French immersion in Alberta; extracurricular French opportunities and resources; andsources for additional information (speakers, workshops, conferences, further reading for both parents and students). (MSE) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 1 CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as Nitareceived from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY C. Ac-Ac,..., 1. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 I BEST COPYAVAILABLE A GUIDE FOR FRENCH IMMERSION PARENTS Alban EDUCATION 1996 3 CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION (ALBERTA EDUCATION) Alberta. Alberta Education. Language Services. Yes, you can help! A guide for French immersion parents. ISBN 0-7732-1837-8 1.French language -- Study and teaching Alberta -- Foreign speakers.2.French language -- Study and teaching as a second language Alberta -- Immersion method.3. Immersion method (Language teaching).I.Title. PC2068.C2A333 1996 440.707123 Copyright° 1996, the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Education, Alberta Education, Language Services Branch, 11160 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5K OL2. All rights reserved. Additional copies may be obtained from the Learning Resources Distributing Centre, 12360 -142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5L 4X9 (Phone: [403] 427-2767; Fax: [403] 422-9750). ii 4 rmsyou're hearing? Confused by d andhow it works? Wonder wh ction isin French? Concerned about belpin sivaparentshave learned? Want to knowwhatoth suitability for the program? yourchild's about Haveques at thesecondary level? immersion happens activities? Worried about what c es d extracurricular onFrenc Looking for information If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, this book is for you! There's no denying the vital role that you and the Alberta Branch of Canadian Parents for play in your child's learning. Today, more than French (CPF) agreed in the fall of 1994 to ever before, parents have access through books, undertake this project. The authors have relied pamphlets, speakers, workshops and the media, on their joint 30 years of experience as to information on how to effectively support unilingual immersion parents as well as their their children's education. combined 33 years of work with other parents, educators and researchers as active members of Like other parents, you are constantly CPF. being encouraged to take an active role rather than leave education entirely to the school Yes, You Can Help! is meant to be of system. However, if you've chosen French assistance not only during the first few years of immersion for your child, you may be con- your child's immersion education but right cerned that you won't be able to fulfil that through to graduation. It's designed as a supporting role. Recognizing the need to reference, to be taken down from the shelf provide parents like you with clear and com- whenever new stages are approached or new plete information about French immersion, questions arise. We hope it will help you put Alberta Education's Language Services Branch the "French" part of your child's education into perspective. You can help your child in French immersion! 5 Alberta Education acknowledges with appreciation the contributions of the following individuals: Writers:Pat Brehaut Judy Gibson Members of the Advisory Committee: Caro lle Babin, Agnes Davidson School, Lethbridge Joanne Boissonneault, Calgary French School Budge Burrows, Principal, Varsity Acres School, Calgary Dave Caron, Alberta School Boards Association for Bilingual Education Ian Clark, National Director, Canadian Parents for French, Alberta Branch Joanne Feist, Trustee, Alberta School Boards Association for Bilingual Education Suzanne Gareau-Kubicki, Language Services Branch, Alberta Education Gordon Lowe, Principal, Agnes Davidson School, Lethbridge Elizabeth Marshall, Regional Officer, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Bernadette Papp, Ecole Notre-Dame, Bonnyville Kathleen Stevens, Ex° le Frere Antoine, Edmonton Ron St-Jean, Principal, Ecole St-Louis de Montfort, Red Deer Claudette Tardif, Vice-doyenne, Faculte Saint-Jean, University of Alberta Graphic artist: Michel Fortier Word processing and layout:Louise Chady Cecile Comeau Sonia Moreau Project Management: Marcel Lava llee, Language Services Branch, Alberta Education We also wish to thank Canadian Parents for French for providing much of the information in the chapter "French Opportunities and Resources." "WHAT DO ALL THOSE TERMS MEAN?" Types of French programs 8 Types of French immersion programs 9 Types of schools offering French programs 9 Other terms you might encounter 10 "MT LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE?" A MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTION How did French immersion start? 21 What is immersion? 23 How does it work? 26 How well does it work? 31 Why "total" immersion? 36 Will my child be completely bilingual? 37 "I WANT TO HELP-BUT ITS IN FRENCH!" Can't the school do it all? 44 How do I prepare my child for immersion? 46 What about homework? 47 How can I encourage good study habits? 47 What have other immersion parents learned? 50 Will my child need French references? 53 What about different learning styles? 54 How can I get the most from parent-teacher conferences? 56 How can I keep in touch with the school? 58 7 4 LIRE ET ECRIRE (Rums in Maud Reading: the most fundamental skill 64 Writing: a paragraph is a paragraph 70 Make writing an everyday activity 72 THE SECONDARY YEARS AND BEYOND THE IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL "IVNY ISNT MY CHILD NAPPY AT SCHOOL?" "BUTMY CHILD IS. I" What is "inclusive education"? 100 What are the early warning signs? 101 How are problems approached? 102 Testing: in English or in French? 104 What are the alternatives? 105 How can I help? 107 "WHAT NAVE STUDENTS AND GRADUATES SAID ABOUT FRENCH IMMERSION" A BRIEF HISTORY OF FRENCH IMMERSION IN ALBERTA FRENCH OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION Speakers, workshops, conferences 133 Further reading for parents (and students) 135 5 4f -4N 4"7z4 4Ib .4 41P \\,ti , t, AP,1 !WI,ket b 7/4 o all thoserffis9,, w.MbrIP0 French isn't just a subject like math or social studies! For those who are confused, here's a guide to the French education terminology now most commonly used in Canada. French programs Core French - French taught as a subject for one period each day or a few times a week. This may begin at any time from kindergarten to grade 10 (depending onthe local school board). It is also known in Alberta as "French as a second language" or "FSL" and in some other provinces as "basic French" or "Francais de baser The objective is to provide students with a basic knowledge of French (the depth of this knowledge will vary according to the length and intensity of the program) and an interest in and appreciation of the French culture. Extended core - a program in which one or two subjects (e.g., social studies, physical education) are taught in French in addition to core French. The core French program may begin at the same time as or precede the extended core program by several years. The objective of this additional exposure to French is to increase the students' French language skills. French first language (FFL) - the provincial program taught in French for Francophone students (that is, children who have at least one Francophone parentsee Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms). You may also hear it called the "Francophone