Helpful Hints
Bilingual Boosters
Is your child enrolled in a French Immersion program? Do you want to help him/her succeed, despite language barriers?
If so, Bilingual Boosters is just for you!
To ensure that your child is successful in our French Immersion program, the Rainbow District School Board has developed five tips designed to help you encourage and support your child in his/her French language education.
Tip #1 – French Goes Multimedia
It’s always a good idea to expose your child to French multimedia. By encouraging your child to read French books, watch French television programs and listen to francophone musicians, you will be enhancing his/her ability to communicate the language and understand the culture. This is a wonderful opportunity for English speaking parents to support their child’s French language education. Who knows, parents may even learn a thing or two!
Tip #2 – Supporting Success
While all information sent to parents, including report cards and teachers’ notes are in English, some parents find it even easier when they have some kind of support system. By simply referring to an English-French dictionary, consulting with francophone relatives, friends and/or co-workers and by asking for additional information from the school, you will be one step closer to helping your child succeed in his/her French language education.
Tip #3 – Learning French: At Home, At School and in the Community
In addition to exposing your child to the language at school and at home, consider extending his/her French education into the community. From local French cultural centres to after school francophone programs, there are many learning opportunities right here in the community. After all, Greater Sudbury has the largest francophone population outside of Québec in Canada.
Tip #4 – Loud and Proud!
The next time your child brings reading assignments at home, encourage him/her to read the text out loud, regardless of the language. Although you may not fully understand the language, it’s important that you show an interest in your child’s education. By enhancing your child’s linguistic learning opportunities, you will be committing to your child’s success in the French Immersion program.
Tip #5 – Practice What You Preach
What better way to encourage and support your child than to pursue French language education yourself? While taking a course such as French as a Second Language requires time and determination, the benefits will be well worth the efforts. Not only will you be setting a great example, you will also be contributing to you and your child’s academic growth.
WHY FRENCH IMMERSION?
- It provides a deeper understanding of the French culture and heritage.
- It opens doors for future career opportunities.
- It enriches thinking and reasoning skills.
- It creates a positive impact on intellectual growth.
- It develops proficiency in Canada’s two official languages.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Children enrolled in the Rainbow District School Board’s French Immersion program learn to speak French in much the same way as they learn to speak English. While the educational approach, skills and concepts and character education remain the same; there are a few differences.
In the French Immersion program …
- There is a balance of English and French instruction.
- Students learn to speak French through the study of other subjects.
- The rich French environment is used to encourage language development.
- Students can take further education in a French setting and receive training and employment in French (after secondary school).