Bonjour! Welcome to the Late French Immersion program!

... started in 2005 at École John Stubbs Memorial School

... continues to be housed at École John Stubbs Memorial School

... welcomes 28 new students each year

... enrolls students whose first language is not French

... has a goal of 'functional bilingualism'

... parallels the curriculum of the regular program

... emphasizes language acquisition at the outset

... prioritizes building classroom community

... is a two year program before combining with other Immersion programs for grade 8

... offers a bilingual Dogwood diploma upon completion from Belmont or Edward Milne Community School

Useful links to visit:

http://johnstubbs.web.sd62.bc.ca/programs/late-french-immersion/

https://lfi6.staff.sd62.bc.ca

https://education.alberta.ca/media/563591/yesyoucanhelp.pdf

Experiencing Success in LFI!

Is My Child a Candidate for French Immersion?

A successful French immersion student:

- ‪ is well-versed, competent and confident when speaking,

writing and reading his/her own first language;‬

- ‪ has a “good ear,” is able to distinguish between different sounds,

voice inflection, tone and intonation;‬

- ‪is a good mimic;‬

- ‪enjoys word play, rhymes and tongue twisters;‬

- ‪does not become easily frustrated by setbacks or mistakes;‬

- ‪enjoys challenges and seeks more than one strategy to problem solve;‬

- ‪stays focused and remains on-task; ‬

- ‪is a risk-taker; ‬

- ‪is adaptable; ‬

- ‪is able to work as part of a team;‬

- ‪has good work and study habits;‬

- ‪has interested and supportive parent(s)‬

If most, or all, of these characteristics aptly describe your son or daughter,

there is a strong possibility he/she will be a successful immersion student.

Reiss, M. The Good Language Learner. The Canadian Modern Language

Review, 41(2), p. 518.

• Grade 6 is a big transition year around our District
• Grade 6 students experience new schools, new classmates, new teachers, new expectations, new travel routines and in LFI, a new language!
• Communication is key. Between teachers, fellow students and parents, LFI students have a strong support network.
• Past experience tells that 8 weeks allows for students to experience the ups and downs of the transition to Middle School and into Late French Immersion.

1. What are the benefits of LFI and learning a second (or third) language?

• has a positive effect on intellectual growth as it enriches and increases cognitive abilities, thus making a student a more flexible and creative thinker
• leaves students with a greater sensitivity to language, enhanced problem-solving abilities and a better ear for listening
• improves a child's understanding of his/her first language as well as his/her literacy skills
• opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from these cultures
• broadens students' cultural life through access to literature, art, music and theatre in another language
• increases a student's feeling of self-esteem and pride
• makes learning a third or fourth language much easier
• gives graduates a head start in language requirements for university and more choices for advanced education
• increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset

• French Immersion is a Canadian innovation which has existed since 1965
• the objective of the FI program is to provide the opportunity for non-Francophone students to become bilingual in English and French.
• There are three FI programs in Canada: Early Immersion beginning in Kindergarten, Middle Immersion beginning in grades 3 or 4, and Late Immersion starting in grade 6
• a student who has successfully completed a French Immersion program can be expected to...

... participate easily in a conversation in English and French

... take post-secondary courses with French as the language of instruction

... gain employment with French as the language of the workplace.

3. What subjects are taught in French?

• in grade 6, we lead up to ALL SUBJECTS being taught in 100% French; these include math, social studies, science, PE, exploratories, and band.
• At the outset of the year the focus is on acquiring enough language to function in the classroom in French.
• there is also a priority given to community building to create an environment where risk taking is valued and supported
• in grade 7, English language arts are re-introduced into the students' learning program to prepare for high school
• once again, all the subjects are taught in French