French Second Language Programs

The Department of Education, through school districts, has authorized the following French Second Language (FSL) programs:

Universal K-2: all children will learn together and will be introduced to French culture and language through a series of learning modules integrated into the curriculum (introduced to Grade 1 in January 2009 and to kindergarten and Grade 2 in the fall of 2009)

Grade 1 Early immersion: Children who entered Grade 1 early immersion in September 2007 or earlier will be grandfathered, and may remain in the program they chose; those who did not choose immersion will enter Grade 5 intensive French, and will have the choice of post-intensive French or Grade 6 immersion, where numbers warrant.

Grade 3 immersion: a program beginning in Grade 3 and built on an early immersion methodology with the majority of instruction in French (where numbers warrant, this will be an option as of September 2010).

English Prime: the non-immersion program for students in grades 3 through 5;

• Pre-Intensive French: a component of Grade 4 in the English Prime program in which students will have 150 minutes per week of French in blocks of 50 to 60 minutes (begins in September 2009);
• Intensive French: a component of Grade 5 in the English Prime program in which students will learn French through a literacy-based approach for about 70 per cent of their day over half the school year; the other half of the year will be conducted in English, with an accelerated curriculum and French instruction in concentrated blocks
  FAQ's about Intensive French  | View the Video

Grade 6 immersion: a program beginning in Grade 6 and built on the late immersion methodology with the majority of instruction in French. Students in Grade 6 French Immersion will have 70% of their instruction in French in grades 6 through 8, and 50% in grades 9 and 10.

English Prime with Post-Intensive French: the non-immersion program for students in grades 6 through 10 in which students take 200 minutes of French in two or three concentrated blocks each week in grades 6 through 8, and students will take one course per year in grades 9 and 10.

Blended High School: the three programs (Grade 3 immersion, Grade 6 immersion and English Prime) will conclude at the end of Grade 10 with an oral proficiency test in French; all students who score intermediate or higher will be eligible to take FSL courses in any available subject in grades 11 and 12. Students who do not attain intermediate proficiency at Grade 10 will have course options to improve their French and can be retested.