French Immersion

French Immersion Program

The French Immersion Program at Western Canada High School is designed for both “early” and “late” immersion students coming from junior high schools. To obtain a Calgary Board of Education Certificate of Achievement in French Immersion, students must take 45 credits in courses taught in French over three years. Fifteen credits must be obtained in French Language Arts. Students may obtain the remaining 30 credits by taking courses in Mathematics and Social Studies. All of these follow the regular Alberta Curriculum but are taught in French. As well as taking immersion courses, students follow the regular program in order to obtain a high school diploma. It is possible for students to obtain the French Immersion Certificate of Achievement as well as the IB Diploma in French. Students should take at least one French Immersion course in every semester.

French, International, & Classic Languages

We believe that:

Students in the French Immersion program at Western Canada High School attain proficiency that enables them to live, work, and pursue post-secondary education in French.
All students have the opportunity to become bilingual in an inspiring environment that promotes cultural and linguistic excellence. It is a special achievement to maintain a successful standing in three courses offered in French. Those students receive an award of a Certificate of Achievement in French Immersion when they have earned 45 credits, which include FLA 10, 20, 30 and 30 credits in Social Studies 10F, 20F, 30F and Math 10F, 20F, 30F, 31F.
In this era of growing interest in global affairs and international studies, students are fortunate to have the opportunity to study two of the world’s most spoken languages. Students choosing to study French and Spanish may attain an intermediate to advanced level of fluency by taking the courses that are offered at Western. Students of Spanish heritage who speak Spanish at home may choose to do Spanish 30IB/H, 31IB/H or 35IB/H.

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Last modified on Mon., Aug. 03, 2020 at 3:18 AM

Late French Immersion (7-12) at the CBE

The Late French Immersion Program provides students with the opportunity to become highly functional in speaking, reading, writing, listening and communicating in French by the end of Grade 12. It is a program in which French is the language of instruction, beginning in Grade 7 and continuing through Grade 12.

First developed in Canada in 1965, the French Immersion program is based on decades of research into its effectiveness both in teaching a second language and in achieving the outcomes of the Alberta Programs of Study.

Registration

Students entering Grade 7 can register
Previous French experience is not required and parents do not need to know the language
See Early French Immersion for entry in kindergarten or Grade 1

Benefits of Learning French

Learning French offers students significant linguistic, academic and cognitive benefits. It opens doors to knowledge, communication, culture and travel, and gives graduates an edge in the global job market. It also provides the following benefits:

strengthens English literacy skills
develops listening and learning skills
enhances problem-solving abilities
increases cognitive abilities, making the student a more flexible and creative thinker
provides graduates with more choices for advanced education and career options
gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market anywhere in Canada and in many other countries
broadens students' cultural life through access to literature, art, music and theatre in another language
helps students to better understand the history, development and government of their country
offers a gateway to national and international opportunities
increases a student's feeling of self-esteem and pride
makes learning a third or fourth language much easier

CBE French Immersion students have the opportunity to receive an internationally recognized language credentialing diploma. Language credentialing is a standardized assessment of language proficiency recognized internationally.

Benefits of Late French Immersion Program

It is suitable for students who are open to the challenge of learning in a new language and willing to listen to, read and use French as much as possible.
French Immersion begins with a period of concentration on French language development so students can achieve a strong foundation in French.

Subject and language breakdown by grade

French Immersion begins with a period of concentration on French language development so that the students achieve a strong foundation in French on which to base their continued learning.

Grades 7-9: French Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies are taught in French; all other subjects are taught in English
Grades 10-12: French Language Arts, Social Studies and Mathematics are taught in French. The Alberta Education Programs of Study are the same for each subject, regardless of the language of instruction

Visit the CBE website to help determine whether or not the Late French Immersion Program (7-12) is right for your child and for information on language credentialing.

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French Immersion