KPR students benefit from three programs offering French. All students begin Core French in Grade 4. In addition, depending on the area of the Board, families have access to two optional French programs that offer additional instruction in Canada's other official language: French Immersion, which starts in Senior Kindergarten, or Extended French, which begins in Grade 5.
The following offers a brief look at the purpose of all of our French programs:
Vision and Goals for the French as a Second Language - Core, Extended and Immersion, Grades 1 to 12
Students will communicate and interact with growing confidence in French, one of Canada's official languages, while developing the knowledge, skills and perspectives they need to participate fully as citizens in Canada and in the world.
In all French as a second language programs, students realize the vision of the FSL curriculum as they strive to:
- use French to communicate and interact effectively in a variety of social settings;
- learn about Canada, its two official languages, and other cultures;
- appreciate and acknowledge the interconnectedness and interdependence of the global community;
- be responsible for their own learning, as they work independently and in groups;
- use effective language learning strategies;
- become lifelong language learners for personal growth and for active participation as world citizens.
Students’ proficiency in French increases based on the amount of time and the level of intensity of instruction in French. KPR follows the Ontario Curriculum for French as a Second Language, which can be accessed at the links below:
All elementary French as a second language (FSL) programs are based on the expectations outlined in this document.
A Framework for French as a Second Language in Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12 has been developed to help school boards and schools in Ontario maximize opportunities for students to reach their full potential in French as a second language (FSL). The framework supports the three core priorities for education in Ontario:
• High levels of student achievement
• Reduced gaps in student achievement
• Increased public confidence in publicly funded education
All secondary French as a second language (FSL) courses will be based on the expectations outlined in this document.
“A considerable body of research shows that second-language learning provides significant cognitive and academic benefits. It is known to enhance first-language and overall literacy skills and to provide a foundation for the learning of additional languages (Jedwab, n.d.). There is also evidence that learning another language can help in the development of interpersonal and social skills. According to the 2004–05 report of the Commissioner of Official Languages, research shows that people “who master more than one language increase their self-confidence and self-esteem and are more at ease with others” "(Adam, 2005, p. 107).
At KPR, students can learn French through the Core French, Extended French or French Immersion program.