Oral Language Development
Oral language is the focus of the new primary French Immersion Curriculum. Without a large receptive and oral vocabularies, second or third language children will not be able to understand what they read or have the words to write what they want to say. This is not usually an issue when teaching students how to read and write in their first language.
Listening is the first step to learning any language. Babies understand much of what they hear long before they communicate ideas with words. There is an emphasis on listening to French throughout our 5-day cycle. This includes hearing only French from the moment they step into the school. Translation into English will not be provided, but instead teachers will use many visual cues such as pictures and body language to communicate to the students at the beginning of the school year. Other students may translate if necessary. During literacy centres, the technology and listening centre is always available. Using headphones, students listen to audio books, with the option of reading along the second time. They may also watch short children's television programs here.
Encouraging students to use French to communicate is the goal of the French Immersion program. After their receptive vocabulary is big enough, they will start to use the words they know to communicate first with the teacher (who refuses to speak English to them), then with each other. Usually by grade one, students will already have been in French Immersion for two years and will be able to communicate.
Listening is the first step to learning any language. Babies understand much of what they hear long before they communicate ideas with words. There is an emphasis on listening to French throughout our 5-day cycle. This includes hearing only French from the moment they step into the school. Translation into English will not be provided, but instead teachers will use many visual cues such as pictures and body language to communicate to the students at the beginning of the school year. Other students may translate if necessary. During literacy centres, the technology and listening centre is always available. Using headphones, students listen to audio books, with the option of reading along the second time. They may also watch short children's television programs here.
Encouraging students to use French to communicate is the goal of the French Immersion program. After their receptive vocabulary is big enough, they will start to use the words they know to communicate first with the teacher (who refuses to speak English to them), then with each other. Usually by grade one, students will already have been in French Immersion for two years and will be able to communicate.