As a parent in an English-speaking household who speaks French Id love to help explain to Art Wilkins and the old folks why a parent would send their children to French immersion (FI). A few quick notes: * I am not an expert in this area but I did do some research. Hopefully I havent made any mistakes. * French immersion and French public schools are different. Anyone can attend French immersion schools. Only students who meet specific criteria can attend French public schools. On to Arts questions: Question: Does taking it [French immersion] mean that a student would take it from junior kindergarten to grade 8 and then on to a 100% French high school? Answer: No. The only 100% French high schools (like the one in Cambridge) are French public schools. FI students can, however, attend a high school that offers Extended French (French is a subject and at least one other subject is taught in French) or French immersion (French is a subject and at least two other subjects are taught in French). In the Upper Grand District School Board there is one Secondary Extended French School (Norwell DSS in Palmerston) and three French Immersion High Schools (Centre Wellington DHS in Fergus, Erin DHS in, well, Erin, and JF Ross CVI in Guelph). Question: If not, what is the point of French immersion? Answer: There is no need to continue French studies beyond elementary school to gain at least some benefits from learning a second language. The best time to learn a language is when youre young. Of course, continuing to use the language is extremely helpful. There is a large, active, and vibrant French community in Wellington County that makes this possible. You could also ask What is the point of gym class? or What is the point of music class? or What is the point of hockey lessons? This is a question only parents can truly answer. However, there are volumes of evidence that show that learning a second language has significant benefits. These include: * Strengthening core language skills. * Opening job opportunities. * Possibly delaying Alzheimers disease. * Enhancing travel experiences. 33 countries include French as an official language, second only to English (45 countries). * Facilitating learning a third language. With the growth of Brazil as an economic power, I believe that good French skills can help individuals learn Portuguese and other languages which can only help in the long run. These are just a few of the benefits of learning a second language. French is an official language in Canada so French is the most logical candidate for a second language in this country. Question: Why is regular JK not good enough? Answer: This is not a question of one being better than the other (the curriculum is the same for FI and non-FI schools) but a question of choice. There are parents who choose to send their children to Catholic school for religious education. There are those who choose to send them to private school for smaller classes. There are those who choose to send them to specialty school for a better grounding in a particular subject area. There are those who choose to send them to English public school for proximity. And there are those who choose to send them to French immersion for the chance to learn a second language. Everyone has their reasons. Hopefully Art and the old folks have a better understanding of Why, sil vous plait?
Stephen Van Esch