Choosing between a Francophone school or French immersion is a decision some parents grapple with for several reasons, including a concern that their children won’t attain a good command of English in a Francophone school. However, studies show that students graduating from Francophone schools have a high level of English-language skills, comparable to, and sometimes even surpassing, that of their peers in English-language schools.
Francophone schools and French immersion schools follow two different approaches. Francophone schools offer children an environment where French is the language of instruction for all subjects, allowing them to think and interact in French throughout the school year. This approach, combined with activities organized within the school, promotes language proficiency and strengthens a sense of belonging to the Francophone community.
French immersion schools, for their part, offer instruction in French within an overall context where the dominant language is English. Although the instruction provides a solid foundation, exposure to French and to Francophone culture is not always consistent. Combined with the fact that British Columbia is mostly Anglophone, children are exposed to French even less outside of the school, which exacerbates the challenges in terms of achieving true French-language proficiency.
To give children every chance of succeeding in their French-language education, it is essential to start from early childhood by choosing Francophone child care centres, to provide a fully French-speaking environment for them. Practicing the language at home is also crucial to reinforce learning.
Francophone education therefore remains a important choice in order to promote solid linguistic development, and also a cultural identity that will remain with them.
To better understand the mechanisms of language development, visit our 1 enfant, 2 langues web page. On this page you’ll find relevant resources and information arranged by topic and age group to help you make informed choices.
