Why Learn French?

Learning an additional language is an advantage for students and studies show is a key factor in academic success. An additional language enhances overall skills in learning, expands career opportunities, promotes understanding among cultures, and creates plurilingual world citizens.

Learning French as an additional language allows students to:

communicate with French-speaking people in Canada and around the world and appreciate the history and evolution of their cultures
develop and benefit from a competitive advantage in the workforce
develop awareness of how language and culture interconnect, helping them appreciate and respect the diversity of Canadian and global societies and develop a greater awareness of global issues
strengthen first language skills
generally enhance cognitive development, mental flexibility, problem solving, reasoning and creative-thinking skills
enhance their confidence as a learner
facilitate the learning of additional languages

Adapted from The Ontario Curriculum: French As a Second Language – Core French Grades 4-8, Extended French Grades 4-8, French Immersion Grades 1-8; 2013, (p. 6-7).

Vision and Goals For French as a Second Language - Core, Extended and Immersion Grades 1 - 12

Vision

Students will communicate and interact with growing confidence in French, one of Canada’s official languages, while developing the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to participate fully as citizens in Canada and in the world.

Goals

In all French as a second language programs, students realize the vision of the FSL curriculum as they strive to:

• use French to communicate and interact effectively in a variety of social settings;

• learn about Canada, its two official languages, and other cultures;

• appreciate and acknowledge the interconnectedness and interdependence of the global community;

• be responsible for their own learning, as they work independently and in groups;

• use effective language learning strategies;

• become lifelong language learners for personal growth and for active participation as world citizens.

The Ontario Curriculum: French As a Second Language – Core French Grades 4-8, Extended French Grades 4-8, French Immersion Grades 1-8; 2013, (p.6)