Basic French 
                    BASIC FRENCH is an optional course within the English program. The purpose of the Basic 
                    French curriculum is to encourage the learning of French as a means of communication and to 
                    make it a part of the student's overall education. This curriculum is designed to expose your child 
                    to the French language and culture, with the goal of encouraging future study and mastery of the 
                    language. 
                    Basic French 
                    Questions & more information  
                         1.  What do I want my child to achieve? 
                         2.  What approach is used? 
                         3.  Is it for my child? 
                         4.  At what grade level can my child begin? 
                         5.  Did you know? 
                         6.  What else should I know? 
                         7.  How does Basic French differ from Immersion? 
                         8.  Has Basic French changed since I went to school? 
                         9.  What should happen in a Basic French classroom? 
                         10. Why Basic French – why not another language? 
                         11. How can I help my Basic French child? 
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                    1. What do I want my child to achieve? 
                     
                    The objective of the Basic French Course is to develop students who, after many years of study, 
                    will: 
                         •    acquire a good foundation in French from which to pursue fluency; 
                         •    have a better chance at becoming bilingual in future years; 
                         •    have gained insights into and an appreciation of the francophone culture; 
                         •    be better able to appreciate other languages, cultures, and communities throughout 
                              Canada and around the world. 
                    2. What approach is used? 
                    French is taught as a subject. Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth recommends 30-35 
                    minutes of instruction in French per day. 
                    French is used as the language of classroom communication. 
                    French language knowledge and skills are developed through the use of themes and projects 
                    geared to the interests, maturity, and life experiences of your child. 
                    3. Is it for my child? 
                    Designed for a child who belongs to the linguistic majority group (English) or whose family 
                    heritage is other than French and who is interested in keeping an open door to other languages. 
                    4. At what grade level can my child begin? 
                    In general, in schools where it is offered, Basic French begins in Grade 4. Some schools begin as 
                    early as Kindergarten or Grade 1. 
                    In a few schools all students study Basic French at certain grade levels, typically Grade 4 to 
                    Grade 8. 
                    5. Did You Know? 
                         •    Some 6.7 million Canadians speak French as their first language; of these, some 48 000 
                              live in Manitoba. Nearly 5 million Canadians speak both French and English; of these, 
                              some 103 000 live in Manitoba.  
                         •    French and English are the main languages of world diplomacy. French is an official 
                              language of the European Economic Community, the United Nations, and the 
                              International Olympic Committee.  
                         •    More than 156,000 students outside Quebec are enrolled in French first language; more 
                              than 317,000 Canadian students are in French Immersion and some 1.8 million are in 
                              Basic French. 
                         •    English and French are truly international languages, spoken by an estimated 800 million 
                              and 250 million people respectively around the world. 
                    6. What Else Should I Know? 
                         •    Manitoba Education, Citizenship, and Youth recognizes the following Kindergarten to 
                              Senior 4 School Programs: English (which includes Basic French), Français, French 
                              Immersion and Senior Years Technology Education. The Bureau de l’éducation 
                              française, a division of the Department, develops the curriculum documents for the 
                              Français and the French Immersion Programs, and for the Basic French courses.  
                         •    After learning more than one language, your child will have a variety of languages which 
                              broadens your child's cultural world. To have the skills to reach others is a source of 
                              personal wealth. 
                    7. How does Basic French differ from Immersion? 
                    There are two principal differences between Basic and Immersion French programs: the kind of 
                    exposure to French, and the amount of it. 
                    In Immersion, instruction is mostly in French. Subject areas, like math, music, and science, are 
                    taught in French. The second language is the medium and not the object of instruction. Basic 
                    French curriculum, on the other hand, concentrates on speaking, listening, reading, and writing in 
                    French. It teaches these language skills through themes designed to spark student interest. The 
                    other difference between the programs is the duration and intensity of exposure to French. By the 
                    end of grade 8, the average early immersion student has had over 4000 hours of instruction in 
      French. Late immersion students accumulate between 1200 and 200 hours in French. A typical 
      immersion student also gains between 1000 and 1500 hours in French high school courses. In 
      comparison, a student who studies Basic French from grade 4 to grade 12 is exposed to a 
      maximum of about 1100 hours of French instruction. 
      8. Has Basic French changed since I went to school? 
      Yes, Basic French now aims to expose students to more spoken French; Basic French curricula 
      now require students to use their linguistic and cultural knowledge to communicate in real-life 
      situations. Newly- created teaching materials support the new curriculum, and most schools are 
      now using these materials at all grade levels. 
      9. What should happen in a Basic French classroom? 
      Basic French should be much more than grammar drills and translation exercises. 
      Learning activities should balance listening, speaking, reading and writing. In the beginning, the 
      curriculum emphasizes listening and speaking. Later, the emphasis on and reading and writing 
      increases. 
      Students should actively participate in tasks and projects. 
      The curriculum should be based on fields of experience or “themes” that consider the learners’ 
      life experiences, intellectual development, and interests. The curriculum should also integrate 
      learning about Francophone culture, with an emphasis on French-speaking Canada, especially in 
      the beginning. Teachers should encourage students to think about ethnic diversity and 
      stereotypes. Programs should also include student reflection on their learning, self-and peer-
      evaluation, and strategies to enrich learning and communication. 
      10. What will my child be able to “do” in French? 
      You might ask yourself this when deciding on an FSL program, or you may wonder if your child 
      is meeting the program’s objectives. 
      Many studies show that most Basic French students meet the objectives set for them. Speaking 
      skills have sometimes been reported below expectations. Research also shows Basic French 
      students generally have positive attitudes toward the French language, French-speaking people, 
      and learning French. Current research does not describe what students are able to do in French, 
      because program objectives were not designed to describe student performance when this 
      research was done. Now most provinces and territories in Canada have articulated these 
      expectations for Basic French. 
      11. Why Basic French – why not another language? 
                    Ideally, students would learn a variety of the languages alive in Canada’s diverse communities. 
                    Sadly, language education is not valued as highly in Canada as it is in Europe, for example, 
                    where students commonly study three or four languages. 
                    For many reasons, it makes most sense for French to be the second language taught in most 
                    Canadian schools:  
                         •    French is one of our official languages, spoken by approximately 9 million Canadians 
                              and more than 250 million people world-wide. 
                         •    Teacher-training programs are established for teachers of French, but for few other 
                              languages. 
                         •    There is an infrastructure for French: teacher organizations, parent support, and advocacy 
                              groups, for instance. 
                         •    Resources are readily available for Basic French programs. 
                         •    Federal funding enhances the program’s potential. 
                         •    Many jobs in Canada require French-speaking skills. 
                    12. How can I help my Basic French child? 
                    Even if you don’t speak French, or aren’t confident in your rusty skills, you can help. 
                    Try some of these ideas: 
                         •    Establish rapport with the Basic French teacher. Make an effort to talk with him or her at 
                              parent interviews. 
                         •    Ask your child what he or she enjoys about Basic French. Focus on the positive! 
                         •    Buy, rent, or borrow French books, magazines, videos, and software that interest your 
                              child. 
                         •    Watch French TV with your child. Remind yourself and your child that it is not crucial to 
                              understand every word. 
                         •    Tune the radio to a local French station, and let it play in the background at breakfast or 
                              in the evening. 
                         •    Take a French course to refresh your old skills or to start from scratch – if your child can 
                              do it, you can too! 
                         •    Encourage participation in French extracurricular activities: school clubs, public 
                              speaking, summer camps. 
                         •    Talk to adolescents about the careers opened up by knowing French 
                         •    Around grade 7 or 8, or when Basic French becomes optional, encourage your child to 
                              keep a positive attitude towards French class. 
                         •    Read to your child in English to help him or her develop a love of language.