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Can my child attend a French school in Newfoundland and Labrador?
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Yes, as long as one or more of the following criteria apply to your family:
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French is the mother tongue of at least one of the parents;
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One of the parents receives primary level instruction in French in Canada;
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One of the children has received or is receiving French education in Canada.
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Learning French in Newfoundland and Labrador, what are the options?
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English Schools offer the following programs for children whose mother tongue is English:
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The Core French program is offered from Grande 4 at 10% of the regular class time: it is a French second language course allowing young Anglophones to learn the basic elements of
the French language.
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Early/Late Immersion programs are developed for Anglophone students who wish to receive an in-depth education in French. In an immersion class, the majority of the course
and activities are held in French.
The only program suitable for a French first language student is the French first language program. All of the courses
(except English as of Grade 4) are given in French. All activities, both inside and outside of the classroom take place in an environment where French language and culture are promoted and valued.
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What are the advantages of a French school?
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A superior understanding of the French and English languages (numerous studies confirm this fact);
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A greater appreciation of the French language and culture;
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A more personalized education due to a low student/teacher ration;
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The opportunity to participate in activities that promote la Francophonie, thereby providing a more stimulating learning process, e.g. Franco-Jeunes;
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My spouse is English, is the French School the best choice for our children?
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Rest assured, you are a part of the majority. According to a 1996 study by Statistics Canada, 80% of pre-school age children eligible for French education in Newfoundland and
Labrador come from exogamous couples, which are couples formed of spouses who come from different cultural and language groups.
If it is important to you that your child be truly bilingual, then the French School is probably your only option. If not, there is a strong chance that your child will live in a
mainly English family or social environment and will not have the opportunity to gain true competence in French.
The administration and staff of the French School guarantee that the English parent will receive important information in their language and that they will actively participate in school
activities.
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Will my child learn English?
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Absolutely! In a largely English environment such as Newfoundland and Labrador, your child will learn English with relative ease.
“In such a situation, the language of the majority is learned practically by itself and minimal formal teaching suffices – grammar rules and spelling – so that the
children of the minority language receive an equal or superior understanding to that which is obtained in their mother tongue.”
- Taken from an article in the 22nd issue of “Langue et Société”, a publication of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada.
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