Edmonton Catholic Schools' French Immersion Program

1
Edmonton Catholic Schools' French Immersion
Program
Created by Aline Brault and the 9 ECS French
Immersion Schools

• École Frère Antoine
• École Grandin School
• École St. Stanislaus School
• Father Léo Green
• École St. Angela School

• École J.H. Picard
• École Holy Cross
• St. Cecilia
• St. Francis Xavier

2
Which is true? The difference between francophone
and immersion schools is
A. Francophone and Immersion schools serve the
same segment of the population. B. The Immersion
program is designed for children whose parents
who do not speak French, so report cards and
newsletters are in English. C. Most immersion
students have French speaking parents. D. Francoph
one schools do not need a liquor license for wine.
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The Facts Are...
B. The Immersion program is designed for
children whose PARENTS DO NOT SPEAK FRENCH so
report cards and newsletters are in English.
Attn (This is THE single greatest
misconception)
4
Which is true?
A. There are 4 francophone and 9 immersion
schools in our division. B. Immersion schools
emerged in 1972 as a result of the province
lifting its ban on more than one hour in French a
day . C. The francophone schools began in 84 and
left ECS in 94 to create their own
division. D. There is no difference between
immersion and francophone schools.
5
The Facts Are...
B. Immersion schools emerged in 1972 as a
result of the province lifting its ban on
teaching more than one hour in French in publicly
funded schools. C. The francophone schools were
created in 84 and left ECS in 94 to create their
own division.
6
Which is true...

• A. French Immersion students do approximately 80
  of their subjects in French.
• B. From grade 2 up, all French Immersion students
  participate in English Language Arts.
• C. Many French Immersion graduates now teach in
  French Immersion.
• D. Except for English Language Arts, all
  government exams are written in French.

7
The Facts Are...

• A. French Immersion students do approximately 80
  of their subjects in French.
• B. From grade 2 up, all French Immersion students
  participate in English Language Arts.
• C. Many French Immersion graduates now teach in
  French Immersion.
• D. Except for English Language Arts, all
  government exams are written in French.

8
Which is true? With regard to homework in our
immersion schools
A. Parents cannot help their children because the
homework is usually in French. B. Parents cannot
help their children because their students are
usually smarter than their parents. C. Parents
can help with homework. D. Parents are so
involved they do most of the homework.
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The Facts Are...
C. Parents can help with homework. (We have
many suggestions for parents and appreciate their
support)
10
Which is true?
A. Immersion is most suitable for children of
east European or Asian descent. B. Students are
expected to be fluently bilingual by the end of
grade 12. C. Students do less well in English
Language Arts. D. Students are expected to be
functionally bilingual by the end of grade 12.
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The Facts Are...
C. (Students do as well as, and often do better
in English Language Arts). D. Students are
expected to be functionally bilingual by the end
of grade 12. (which means they speak correctly
and can independently learn to discuss house
repairs or banking in French, or other topics not
covered in school.)
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Students in immersion schools...
A. Are generally "crème de la crème". B. Aren't
very good at sports (except those in which no
running is involved such as chess). C. Have very
involved parents. D. Like other schools, reflect
the socio/cultural/economic make-up of the
neighbourhood.
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The Facts Are...
D. Like other schools, reflect the
socio/cultural/economic make-up of the
neighbourhood.
14
When it comes to students with special needs,
the immersion program...
A. Encourages them to attend an English school
where they do better academically. B. Has little
experience. C. Has strategies to deal with an
increasing array of needs just as all other
schools are doing. D. Encourages students to stay
but must respect the parents' decision.
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The Facts Are...
C. Has strategies to deal with an increasing
array of needs just as all other schools are
doing. D. Encourages students to stay but must
respect the parents' decision.
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Immersion schools are now responsible for...
A. Special needs but no gifted students. B. Gifted
but no special needs students. C. English as a
Second Language, Gifted Education and Special
Needs. D. The price of natural gas.
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The Facts Are...
C. English as a Second Language, Gifted
Education and Special Needs.
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Immersion High School students are...
A. Typical students representing most student
types. B. Happiest when watching CPAC
tv. C. Always well-balanced and cheerful needing
little supervision and guidance. D. Finding that
adjusting to sciences in English at University is
not a problem.
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The Facts Are...
A. Typical students representing most student
types. Attn (This is the second greatest
misconception) when in fact students find that
... D. Adjusting to sciences in English at
University is not a problem.(learning the concept
of division or of the chemistry mole is the issue
not the word label, which in these cases are the
same).
20
The two numbers which best describe the September
2001 Immersion enrolments in Edm. Public and
Catholic Schools are...
A. E. Pub. 1958 -- E.Cath. 2679 B. E. Pub.
3467 -- E.Cath. 2023 C. E. Pub. 2612 --
E.Cath. 2205 D. E. Pub. 4120 -- E.Cath. 2332
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The Facts Are...
A. Edm. Public 1958 -- ECS 2679 (We have
maintained solid enrolments over the past 10
years! ) Watch for two new programs this fall
Our Lady of Prairies K,1
Archbishop OLeary
modified immersion for grade 10
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Demographics

• ECS student population 31,146
• French Immersion population 2,679 or 8.6

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Did you know that...?

• French is an official language in 33 countries
  and commonly used in another 12.

École Grandin School
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Did you know that...?

• ... French is the second most frequently taught
  language in the world.
• ... it is the second most abundant language on
  the internet.

J.H. Picard
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Did you know that...?

• ... Canada is considered a world leader in
  second-language education.
• ... there are Canadian-style immersion programs
  in Australia, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore,
  Spain, and the United States.

École Frère Antoine
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Did you know that...?

• The highest bilingualism rate (24.4) was among
  people aged 15 to 19

St. Cecilia
27
Did you know that...?

• Edmonton Catholic Schools is a leader in
  Immersion in Alberta.
• We provide leadership, inservices and sell our
  resources across the province.

St. Francis Xavier
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Did you know that...?

• French is an official working language of many
  international organizations, including the
  Olympics, the U.N., NATO, the International
  Labour Bureau, and the International Red Cross.

St. Stanislaus
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Did you know that...?

• French and English are the main languages of
  diplomacy throughout the world.
• It's the only language other than English spoken
  on five continents.

St. Angela
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Did you know that...?

• French immersion 27,043
• French Immersion is offered in 53 School
  Divisions in Alberta.

Enrolment according to the 1996 Canadian Census
for Alberta
Holy Cross
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Did you know that...?

• Learning a language gives you an ability to
  discover new ideas and new thoughts, to look at
  things in a different way, from another angle.
  Learning language is like giving a gold deposit
  to your children, but without risk, because gold
  may decrease in value, but knowledge will not.
  (Dr. Roseann Runte, President of Victoria
  University of the University of Toronto)

Father Leo Green
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Edmonton Catholic Schools' French Immersion
Program
Embraced by Faith. Inspired! Oui.

• École J.H. Picard
• École Holy Cross
• St. Cecilia
• St. Francis Xavier

• École Frère Antoine
• École Grandin School
• École St. Stanislaus School
• Father Léo Green
• École St. Angela School

• Archbishop OLeary
• Our Lady of Prairies