French Immersion

Early French Immersion Program (K-12)

The Early French Immersion Program provides students with the opportunity to acquire fluency in speaking, reading, writing, listening and communicating in French by the end of Grade 12. It is a program in which French is the language of instruction, beginning in Kindergarten or Grade 1 and continuing to Grade 3 when English is introduced. Early French Immersion is designed for non-Francophones and is an effective way for students to become functionally fluent in French while achieving all of the learning outcomes of the regular programs of study.

First developed in Canada in 1965, the French Immersion program is based on decades of research into its effectiveness both in teaching a second language and in achieving the outcomes of the provincial education curriculum.

Benefits of Learning French

Learning French offers students significant linguistic, academic and cognitive benefits. It opens doors to knowledge, communication, culture and travel, and gives graduates an edge in the global job market. It also provides the following benefits:

strengthens English literacy skills
develops listening and learning skills
enhances problem-solving abilities
increases cognitive abilities, making the student a more flexible and creative thinker
provides graduates with more choices for advanced education and career options
gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market anywhere in Canada and in many other countries
broadens students' cultural life through access to literature, art, music and theatre in another language
helps students to better understand the history, development and government of their country
offers a gateway to national and international opportunities
increases a student's feeling of self-esteem and pride
makes learning a third or fourth language much easier

Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools French Immersion students have the opportunity to receive an internationally recognized language credentialing diploma. Language credentialing is a standardized assessment of language proficiency recognized internationally.

Benefits of Our Early French Immersion Program

In Early French Immersion, reading and writing are first taught in French, but students quickly transfer those skills to English beginning in Grade 3. The program includes a strong English language component in Grades 3-12. Research shows that by Grade 6, the literacy skills of French Immersion students meet or exceed those of their peers in the regular English program.
It is suitable for children with diverse learning needs, including those for whom English is a second language and students with special needs, where appropriate supports are provided.
French Immersion begins with a period of concentration on French language development so students can achieve a strong foundation in French.

Subject and language breakdown by grade

Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2: All subjects are taught in French
Grade 3: English Language Arts is introduced
Grades 4-7: All subjects are taught in French except for English Language Arts
Grades 8-12: French Immersion students have access to a full French Immersion program (including Senior High Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities, and Religion, Health, and Physical Education when possible) along with a diverse range of options for students to pursue.

The Alberta Education Programs of Study are the same for each subject, regardless of the language of instruction.

Student Transportation

Schools

Student Registration

Previous French experience is not required and parents do not need to know the language.