Being an Administrator in a French Language School Saskatchewan Principals’ Short Course – July, 2017 Gisèle Jean-Bundgaard

A bit about me… about you… 31 years as a French Immersion educator Primary – Middle years’ teacher In school administrator Introductions – School division- background Greater Saskatoon Catholic school Division Administrators in GSCS French Language consultant – B. Alberton

Session Outcomes To Provide an overview of the role of the principal in schools with a French Language Program French language program structures Resources for teachers & parents with emphasis on the Saskatchewan curriculum To review the goals of the French Language programs To outline present teacher training and recruitment based on GSCS experience To provide opportunity to share experiences, insights and questions within the group

French Language Programs French Immersion –L’immersion Intensive French – le français intensif Core French – Le français de base Early Immersion: Entrance at Kindergarten or grade 1

French Immersion program

French Immersion School Structures Type A & B Dual-track and single-track schools Advantages for both All French immersion classrooms teach the same provincial curriculum. Student achievement in French are similar regardless of school composition.

Goals of the French Immersion Program To achieve “functional bilingualism” – being able to successfully manage in a personal and professional setting entirely in French Language and culture Expression Comprehension Language and Culture: students will value learning French as an intellectual, social and personal devt tool -dev positive attitude toward French lang and culure -including francophone, metis and FNM cultures Expression – student will produce oral messages and written text to transmit info, express ideas, feelings Comprehension = to understand oral messages and written text in variety of situations: for info, imagination, entertainment -through listening, viewing and reading tasks and learning experiences

Overview of French Immersion Program per Grade Level K-2 – 90% French instruction (Religious Education – English) Gr. 3-5 – Approx. 75-80% French Gr. 6-8 - Approx. 70-75% French except for ELA and Religious Education, Band Gr. 9-12—50% of high school courses in French

Interdisciplinary Curricula – Kindergarten to grade 2 Listening, modeling and speaking Makes a correlation between learning outcomes Provides authentic and meaningful contexts for learning a second language Is delivered through inquiry based learning Allows for flexible scheduling and student grouping Uses of authentic sources that go beyond textbooks Students engaged in gaining and using knowledge and skills and ways of being (Children need to be able to understand and communicate their understanding)

The importance of oral language Oral Language development across the curriculum is not intended to teach children to speak but to improve their ability to communicate. Oral language development is essential for a solid foundation and to facilitate all learning in a second language Helping staff create a French environment for students.

Understanding the Learning process for the L2 Learner What we think we can say! What we write we can read! What we say we can write!

Supporting Teachers: Best Instructional and Assessment Practices Apply

Inclusivity in French Programs The student who would excel/experience difficulty in a regular English program will likely excel/experience difficulty in an immersion program Students with impairments can still be in French Immersion Parental decision Quotes from Dr. K. Arnett’s research – Maryland, US There is no cognitive barrier to bilingualism (Paradis, Genesee, & Crago, 2010). Second language development takes time, even for younger kids who are “sponges” or less intimidated than adults (Ortega, 2010). Struggling/experiencing difficulty during the process is NORMAL (Ortega, 2010).

French Immersion Beyond Elementary School… Ministry of Education identifies French courses on all transcripts. Bilingual certificate for completing 12 courses in French According to tests (such as the Foreign Service Exams), immersion graduates are functionally bilingual, capable of functioning in most social, travel and work situations. Bilingual graduates are more likely to qualify for jobs in government, tourism, retail, and travel services. Increasing number of post-secondary opportunities to access courses taught in French at English universities

Curriculum Knowledge for Administrators https://www.edonline.sk.ca/bbcswebdav/library/curricula/Francais/Interdis ciplinaire/interdisciplinaire_1_imm_2015.pdf

La Sask lit - Sask Reads resource https://saskatchewanreads. wordpress La Sask lit - Sask Reads resource https://saskatchewanreads.wordpress.com/ lasaskatchewanlit.wordpress.com

Other Resources for Administrators

Resources for Parents – French Immersion: ex Resources for Parents – French Immersion: ex. of school Division-based Information

More F.I. Resources for Parents http://arts.ucalgary.ca/lrc/home/parent-counselling-service/video-benefits- bilingualism (video – 22 minutes) Information sessions for parents prior to Kindergarten registration CPF – Canadian Parents for French - https://sk.cpf.ca/ 8 Chapters throughout saskatchewan Camps for children Research – Why to choose french? Classes for parents

Intensive French Program

Intensive French – Goals - Focus To provide a higher level of language competency in French to all students To develop a positive attitude towards learning a second language The main focus is on: Authentic communication Developing literacy skills Challenging projects Interactive strategies Building internal knowledge of French

Background Information First piloted in 2002 in Saskatoon Implemented across SasK and Canada- replicated in other countries for other languages Based on a National Core French Study (1985-1989) on the efficiency of the Core French program, the results concluded that students would learn better with: Sustained periods of time A more communicative approach (as opposed to grammar-based) Resources to support the communicative approach Change in teaching strategies Even with these changes, results were not as strong as expected, therefore the Intensive French program was developed as a research project to refine the factors in order to get the desired results.

Intensive French Structure First five months: Intense and uninterrupted periods of French 3 or 4 times the number of hours in FSL in a school year (ex.: from 90 to 300 hrs/year) A reorganized FSL curriculum based on a Language Arts/ Literacy approach Last five months: regular curriculum Grade 6 implementation

GRADE 6 Intensive French Sept.-January Feb.-June 60% 12% E Math 14% Health education - 2% Religion 8% Science Social studies Music (Band) Phys. Ed. Arts Ed. 4% Career Ed. English language arts 26% You will note that over the year, the French block of time is the only subject taught in French. All subjects that appear in the blue shaded section below French are taught in English. So, you will not see Health, Science, Social Studies, Career Ed. and English Language Arts scheduled in the first half of the year. Math, Religion, Music (Band), Phys. Ed, and Arts Ed. continue to be taught throughout the year.

Grade 7 & 8 Post-Intensive French English 22% French 14% Math 16% Religion 10% Science 8% Social studies Music (Band) 4% Phys. Ed. Arts Ed. Health Education Career Ed 2% Grades 9-12 Post-IF are semestered like other courses

Languages are best learned when there is… Less time on KNOWLEDGE Teaching grammar (for oral communication) Learning vocabulary lists More time on USE Interacting in the 2nd language Modeling the language Correcting the language used

Resources for Educators

Core French Program

Core French - Goals A second language program in which French is taught as a subject or course. A solid introduction and base upon which students can build second language skills. Students will understand, use and appreciate the French language. Students will use the language confidently and correctly in familiar contexts and authentic situations, develop strategies to help them acquire the language and develop an appreciation of Francophone cultures.

The Core French Program Can: Contributes to the global education of students and allows them to enrich their personal experience through communicative situations; Develop communication and social strategies that will enable them to function effectively in authentic language situations; Promote a positive attitude towards the learning of French and, through an appreciation of francophone cultures, develop openness towards cultural diversity and a comprehension of the bilingual and multicultural reality of Canada today; and Foster a comprehension of the language learning process and of the general nature of language

Core French Specifics Core French is not a required area of study. It is a locally-determined option at the elementary and middle levels and an elective at the secondary level. Schools/divisions determine the grade level at which the Core French program will begin and the time allotment To accommodate variety in starting ages, the Core French curriculum is defined by language levels and not by grades – beginning with level one. There are nine levels of study that precede secondary credit courses Core French 10, 20 and 30. The levels represent a continuum of language learning. It is possible for students in one classroom to be working at different levels of the Core French continuum.

Core French Levels Correlation Level 6 -----Grade 9 Level 7 -----Grade 10 Level 8 -----Grade 11 Level 9 -----Grade 12

Core French Instructional Requirements At the elementary and middle levels, school divisions may gain time for locally-determined options by reducing the time spent in required areas of study by no more than 20% in any area. The recommended minimum time allocations for Core French are 120 minutes per week at the elementary level and 150 minutes per week at the middle level.

Resources for Educators https://www.curriculum.gov.sk.ca GSCS Core French Survival guide outlines the program specifics CASLT – Canadian Association of Second Language teachers https://www.caslt.org

CPF – A Resource for Parents

Teacher Training University programs Intensive French – one week course – STF https://www.stf.sk.ca/professional-resources/professional-growth/events- calendar/intensive-french-5-days French oral proficiency levels

Funding for French Programs Provincial Funding 33% more funding for instructional resources in FI schools – (ex: single stream FI school of 400 would received about $60,000 more than an English only school) No extra funding transportation Federal funding Managed at the school board level – no formula - $65,000 for 7 FI schools Rotating kits of resources Classroom libraries French cultural performances Oral language resources Pd and resources for teachers Conseil culturel Fransaskois reimburses $250 for school-based cultural activities CPF funding for schools

French: The gift of a 2nd language