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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 413 771 FL 024 881 AUTHOR Brehaut, Pat; Gibson, Judy TITLE Yes, You Can Help! A Guide for French Immersion Parents. INSTITUTION Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton. Language Services Branch. ISBN ISBN-0-7732-1837-8 PUB DATE 1996-00-00 NOTE 144p.; Printed on colored paper. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Educational History; Educational Objectives; Educational Resources; Elementary Secondary Education; Extracurricular Activities; Foreign Countries; *French; *Immersion Programs; Information Sources; *Parent Participation; *Parent Role; Second Language Learning; Second Language Programs; Student Characteristics; Vocabulary IDENTIFIERS Alberta; Canada; *French Language Schools ABSTRACT The guide is designed to encourage parents of children in elementary school French immersion programs to take an active role in the programs, and to provide practical information to support such participation. Sections address these topics: terminology concerning program types and other aspects of immersion instruction; the rationale for learning a second language; the evolution of immersion education and program types in Canada; issues of concern to parents if they do not speak French or are unfamiliar with immersion education; making the most of communication with teachers and school; reading and writing instruction and home practice; options in secondary school and beyond; the importance of French outside school; solving student problems and concerns; students with special needs; student and graduate views on French immersion; a brief history of French immersion in Alberta; extracurricular French opportunities and resources; and sources for additional information (speakers, workshops, conferences, further reading for both parents and students). (MSE) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 1 CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization Nita originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Ac-Ac,..., C . 1. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 I BEST COPY AVAILABLE A GUIDE FOR FRENCH IMMERSION PARENTS Alban EDUCATION 1996 3 CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION (ALBERTA EDUCATION) Alberta. Alberta Education. Language Services. Yes, you can help! A guide for French immersion parents. ISBN 0-7732-1837-8 French language -- Study and teaching Alberta -- Foreign 1. French language -- Study and teaching as a second speakers. 2. 3. Immersion method Alberta -- Immersion method. language (Language teaching). Title. I. 440.707123 PC2068.C2A333 1996 Copyright° 1996, the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Education, Alberta Education, Language Services Branch, 11160 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5K OL2. All rights reserved. Additional copies may be obtained from the Learning Resources Distributing Centre, 12360 -142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5L 4X9 (Phone: [403] 427-2767; Fax: [403] 422-9750). 4 ii you're hearing? rms how it works? Confused by d and in French? ction is Wonder wh have learned? parents siva Concerned about belpin oth what suitability for the program? Want to know child's your about ques secondary level? Have at the immersion happens Worried about what activities? d extracurricular c es Frenc on Looking for information If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, this book is for you! and the Alberta Branch of Canadian Parents for There's no denying the vital role that you French (CPF) agreed in the fall of 1994 to play in your child's learning. Today, more than undertake this project. The authors have relied ever before, parents have access through books, on their joint 30 years of experience as pamphlets, speakers, workshops and the media, unilingual immersion parents as well as their to information on how to effectively support combined 33 years of work with other parents, their children's education. educators and researchers as active members of CPF. Like other parents, you are constantly being encouraged to take an active role rather Yes, You Can Help! is meant to be of than leave education entirely to the school assistance not only during the first few years of system. However, if you've chosen French your child's immersion education but right immersion for your child, you may be con- through to graduation. It's designed as a cerned that you won't be able to fulfil that reference, to be taken down from the shelf supporting role. Recognizing the need to whenever new stages are approached or new provide parents like you with clear and com- questions arise. We hope it will help you put plete information about French immersion, the "French" part of your child's education into Alberta Education's Language Services Branch perspective. You can help your child in French immersion! 5 Alberta Education acknowledges with appreciation the contributions of the following individuals: Writers: Pat Brehaut Judy Gibson Members of the Advisory Committee: Caro lle Babin, Agnes Davidson School, Lethbridge Joanne Boissonneault, Calgary French School Budge Burrows, Principal, Varsity Acres School, Calgary Dave Caron, Alberta School Boards Association for Bilingual Education Ian Clark, National Director, Canadian Parents for French, Alberta Branch Joanne Feist, Trustee, Alberta School Boards Association for Bilingual Education Suzanne Gareau-Kubicki, Language Services Branch, Alberta Education Gordon Lowe, Principal, Agnes Davidson School, Lethbridge Elizabeth Marshall, Regional Officer, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Bernadette Papp, Ecole Notre-Dame, Bonnyville Kathleen Stevens, Ex° le Frere Antoine, Edmonton Ron St-Jean, Principal, Ecole St-Louis de Montfort, Red Deer Claudette Tardif, Vice-doyenne, Faculte Saint-Jean, University of Alberta Graphic artist: Michel Fortier Louise Chady Word processing and layout: Cecile Comeau Sonia Moreau Project Management: Marcel Lava llee, Language Services Branch, Alberta Education We also wish to thank Canadian Parents for French for providing much of the information in the chapter "French Opportunities and Resources." "WHAT DO ALL THOSE TERMS MEAN?" 8 Types of French programs 9 Types of French immersion programs 9 Types of schools offering French programs 10 Other terms you might encounter "MT LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE?" A MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTION 21 How did French immersion start? 23 What is immersion? 26 How does it work? 31 How well does it work? 36 Why "total" immersion? 37 Will my child be completely bilingual? "I WANT TO HELP-BUT ITS IN FRENCH!" 44 Can't the school do it all? 46 How do I prepare my child for immersion? 47 What about homework? 47 How can I encourage good study habits? 50 What have other immersion parents learned? Will my child need French references? 53 54 What about different learning styles? How can I get the most from parent-teacher 56 conferences? 58 How can I keep in touch with the school? 7 4 LIRE ET ECRIRE (Rums in Maud Reading: the most fundamental skill 64 70 Writing: a paragraph is a paragraph 72 Make writing an everyday activity THE SECONDARY YEARS AND BEYOND THE IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL "IVNY ISNT MY CHILD NAPPY AT SCHOOL?" I" "BUT MY CHILD IS . What is "inclusive education"? 100 What are the early warning signs? 101 How are problems approached? 102 Testing: in English or in French? 104 What are the alternatives? 105 107 How can I help? "WHAT NAVE STUDENTS AND GRADUATES SAID ABOUT FRENCH IMMERSION" A BRIEF HISTORY OF FRENCH IMMERSION IN ALBERTA FRENCH OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION Speakers, workshops, conferences 133 Further reading for parents (and students) 135 5 f 4 -4N 4 z 4"7 ti .4 4Ib \\, 41P , t, AP,1 !WI ,ket b 7/4 o all thoserffis 9,, w.MbrIP0 French isn't just a subject like math or social studies! For those who are confused, here's a guide to the French education terminology now most commonly used in Canada.