News from French as a Second Language Advisory Committee

1. Registration Deadlines

Senior Kindergarten Entry: Early Immersion application process

• Closes – December 5, 2014

Grade 4 Entry: Junior Extended and Middle Immersion application process & 

Grade 7 Entry: Extended application process

• Opens – January 5, 2015

• Closes – January 29, 2015

Note:  Registration is for entry in September 2015. Applications are done on PARS (on-line) – except for Grade 7 Extended which is a paper process as in the past. Information night and application information is posted on the TDSB French Programs page. 

2. Salon du Livre Dec 3-6 

The annual Toronto French book fair is on at the Toronto Reference Library at 789 Yonge Street. Activities on Saturday, December 6 from 9-11:30 am include Geronimo Stilton and Pachi from the Pan Am Games. Authors and publishers will be there from December 3-6 to showcase their books. Entrance is free this year! Details here: www.salondulivredetoronto.ca . 

3. New Parent Guide for French Immersion/Extended

“Supporting your Child's Success in French Immersion and Extended French, Kindergarten to Grade 8” is now available for downloading from the Ministry of Education website. The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat published the guide as part of their series on Tips and Tools for Parents:www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips   Click on the purple cover!

4. Toronto Public Library French Activities 

The Lilian H. Smith branch on College St is showing French movies for age 4 and up on December 27 & 29. To find out about French activities at Toronto Public Library branches across the city,check here. 

5. Have you got your Learnmark?

Learnmarks are available now from your school librarian and are probably in your child’s backpack! These handy bookmarks give you the passwords to access on-line resources from home that are provided by the TDSB in French and English.

6. Franco Lab TV5

www.francolab.ca offers resources in French, suitable for tweens & teenagers. There are French songs, video stories and quizzes with a very fun approach to Canadian history, geography and culture. Their goal is to provide a simple and engaging way to practice French language skills. TV5 is a consortium of French public broadcasters based in Quebec. Franco Lab is supported in part by the federal Ministry of Canadian Heritage.

7.  Just Released-New Curriculum for Secondary FSL

The new curriculum for secondary Core, Extended and Immersion French has just been released by the Ministry of Education. Teacher training sessions are taking place in the coming weeks and full implementation will begin in September 2015. The previous curriculum from 1999 was 107 pages and the new one is 388 pages!  

The new vision is:  “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.”

The new goals are: “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.” 

8. Parents Ask…

I am a bit worried about my child’s progress. What should I do?

Talking with your child’s teacher is the best way to help him/her be more successful. As with the regular program, parents play a key role in supporting students in French as a Second Language programs.  Share your concerns, find out what is happening in the classroom and what you can do at home.

In the TDSB, we believe that all children can learn a second or additional language. Teachers in our Core, Extended and Immersion French programs work hard every day to enable their students to be as successful as they can be.  If a student encounters difficulties in the FSL classroom, the teacher uses many of the same strategies that are used in the regular program to help students be more successful. 

Our EQAO data on literacy and math skills show us that students in Extended and Immersion French do as well if not better than the general population of students. We know that the language of instruction being French does not in itself impact a student’s ability to learn concepts and develop skills specific to literacy, math and the other subject areas. 

Sometimes what may appear to be a “lag” in reading in French does not actually indicate a “reading problem”. It may be an indicator of a child’s understanding of oral French. A teacher’s determination of the “level” at which a student reads is based on what the student can decode and on his understanding of what he has read in French. This sort of difficulty is usually addressed by working to develop the child’s proficiency in oral French and, in this way, the perceived difficulty disappears shortly.

If a difficulty with the mechanics of reading or literacy skills does become apparent we know that interventions delivered in the target language (French) can be just as effective as those delivered in English. This targeted help can be provided by the classroom teacher during small group learning within the regular classroom day. In many schools, an additional layer of support may be available through what is called the “resource” teacher – meaning a teacher who provides additional work on specific skills outside the classroom.  A student encountering difficulties in math can be supported very effectively by the classroom teacher or by the school’s resource teacher in French.

And remember, as a parent, you are helping to build these same reading and math skills at home. Read together in your home language and discuss words, pictures and ideas with your child. Count and measure with your child in the kitchen and when you are outdoors. Find out what themes are being discussed at school and continue the discussion at home. Work together with your child’s teacher.

-Kirsten Johnston, FSL Program Coordinator

9. You are invited!

Parents, students, trustees, teachers and staff are invited to attend and participate in FSLAC meetings. The Board’s mission for the FSLAC is:  “to consult with and advise the Board on French as a Second Language matters. As a Board community advisory committee, the FSLAC will contribute to the work of trustees and staff. This partnership of trustees, staff and parents will foster excellence and growth in FSL programs at the Board.” Meetings start at 7 pm at the TDSB offices at 5050 Yonge St., ground floor. FSLAC information is posted on the TDSB website: tdsb.on.ca/fslac .

Upcoming meetings are: Jan 27, Feb 24 and April 21, 2015