Government of New Brunswick

Government of New Brunswick


Consultation results
Improved French second-language program

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A new entry-point to French immersion in Grade 3, an introduction to French language and culture for all students in kindergarten and early grades, and more options for French instruction in high school highlight a package of curriculum changes announced today by Premier Shawn Graham and Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

Premier Shawn Graham "Today we brought forward improvements that strike a better balance… providing more comprehensive FSL programming for Canada's only bilingual province.”
– Premier Shawn Graham
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock "This truly is a consultation-driven solution, and we are thankful to the many New Brunswickers who took part." – Education Minister Kelly Lamrock

The revised FSL program will consist of the following elements:

  • Universal K-2: all children will learn together and will be introduced to French culture and language through a series of learning modules integrated into the curriculum (introduced to Grade 1 in January 2009 and to kindergarten and Grade 2 in the fall of 2009);
  • Grade 3 immersion: a program beginning in Grade 3 and built on an early immersion methodology with the majority of instruction in French;
  • English Prime: the non-immersion program for students in grades 3 through 5;
    • Pre-Intensive French: a component of Grade 4 in the English Prime program in which students will have 150 minutes per week of French in blocks of 50 to 60 minutes;
    • Intensive French: a component of Grade 5 in the English Prime program in which students will learn French through a literacy-based approach for about 70 per cent of their day over half the school year; the other half of the year will be conducted in English, with an accelerated curriculum and French instruction in concentrated blocks;
  • Grade 6 immersion: a program beginning in Grade 6 and built on the late immersion methodology with the majority of instruction in French;
  • English Prime with Post-Intensive French: the non-immersion program for students in grades 6 through 10 in which students take 200 minutes of French in two or three concentrated blocks each week in grades 6 through 8, and students will take one course per year in grades 9 and 10;
  • Blended High School: the three programs (Grade 3 immersion, Grade 6 immersion and English Prime) will conclude at the end of Grade 10 with an oral proficiency test in French; all students who score intermediate or higher will be eligible to take FSL courses in any available subject in grades 11 and 12.Students who do not attain intermediate proficiency at Grade 10 will have course options to improve their French and can be retested
 
August 5, 2008
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When kids come first
Consultation French Second Language Program
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