Mountain View School Division offers many different programs, all serving the purpose of ‘Keeping Learners at the Centre,’ and to provide an inspiring, respectful and safe learning environment where every student is valued, nurtured and enabled to realize their full potential. Language programs are evident and valued in this division, such as the Ukrainian Bilingual Program, Indigenous and Aboriginal Language Programs, English as an Additional Language, Basic French (English schools), and French Immersion at École Macneill, MacKenzie Middle School and the DRCSS.
French Immersion? Qu’est-ce que c’est? French Immersion provides the opportunity for non-francophone students to develop linguistic competency (the ability to communicate for both personal and professional needs) in the French language as well as mastery of the English language. It is an effective, fun way for children to become fluent in French while achieving all the curricular outcomes of the provincial program. French is the language of instruction for all subjects, with the exception of English Language Arts. French Immersion is designed for students whose first language is not French.
The Canadian Model of French Immersion originated during the late 1960s in St. Lambert, Quebec by a group of anglophone parents who wanted their children to have the opportunity to become bilingual. Due to the success of the program, it quickly spread to other parts of the country, including Manitoba, in the 1970s.
In 1978, a group of parents in Dauphin wanted their children to learn and be taught in Canada’s second official language, French. With the support of former Dauphin-Ochre School Division, 16 students made up the inaugural Kindergarten class of French Immersion at École Macneill in the fall of 1979. During the past 43 years, the program peaked to close to 300 French Immersion students, Kindergarten to Grade 12 in the mid-1990s and again around 2015. This is consistent with national trends in French Immersion. There are currently over 25,000 students enrolled in French Immersion in Manitoba in 115 schools in 24 school divisions.
The program is supported by BEF, Bureau de l’éducation française, a division of the Department of Education created in 1974, and given the mandate to develop, evaluate and administer policies and programs related to French education in all school programs in Manitoba. Due to the influx of international immigration and an increase in the number of new learners who don’t speak English or French, BEF has recently redesigned their language learning strategic goal – to develop proud, confident, engaged, plurilingual global citizens.
École Macneill, located in Dauphin, houses the K-5 French Immersion Program and accepts registrations from all students within MVSD. Our mission is to foster in our students, a love and a desire for life-long learning in both official languages of Canada, in a positive, challenging, and caring environment.
École Macneill is referred to as a French milieu, meaning French Immersion (FI) is the only program in the school; all students are enrolled in the Early Years FI, where a French environment is fostered. French is the language of administration and internal communication, as well as the language of communication between teachers and students. Classroom teachers are fluent in French and teacher retention is positive due to the support and guidance they provide each other. It provides students with the opportunity to live in French within the context of the entire school, a factor that favors a high degree of proficiency in French. Mini-franglais is a preschool program at École Macneill that introduces young children to the basics of the French language.
In Early Immersion, the ideal age to enter is 5-6 years so the foundation of the language is embedded into their listening, speaking, and understanding. Kindergarten instruction is 100% French. The teacher speaks French all the time, except in case of emergency. The purpose of this year is to accustom the children to hearing French and speaking common phrases and songs that they will use on a daily basis. While they may speak some French in Kindergarten, it is normal for the students to speak to each other or to respond to the teacher in English. In Grades 1-5, students study in French for 75% of their day, with 25% or one hour devoted to English Language Arts. Students learn to read in English in Grade 1, then in French in Grade 2. In Grades 6-8, students study at least their core subjects in French, for 50-75% of their school day. In Grades 9-12, students must take 50% of their courses in French to graduate with an Immersion diploma.
Speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and representing are learning outcomes in all languages. Students studying two languages receive a double exposure to language skills and these skills are readily transferred between languages. In Early Years, students may experience a slight lag compared to students in an English school. This is normal. By Middle Years, however, studies show that most FI students have enhanced first-language skills. National tests of reading and writing skills show that students in second-language programs score equally well in comprehension and expression than those in English-only programs.
Parental involvement at École Macneill is a fundamental ingredient to the educational success of their children. Their role is one of active participation right from the start. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed, parents are re-engaging to physically participate in the school planning process via involvement in the Parent Partnership Council. Parents at École Macneill are helpers, workers and home team supporters. They may serve lunches, prepare lunch sales, coordinate book fairs, chaperone field trips, plan special events and activities, assist teachers, make presentations to classes, or tutor students in reading or math. Informed parents are able to share their knowledge and experience with other parents who are considering the program for their children. The parents’ role is to be supportive, get excited and become involved in their child’s education!
At home, parents can provide extended opportunities to enrich their children’s first and second languages through reading, music, art, travel and cultural events. Parents of children in French Immersion are not expected or required to understand or speak French. Communication between teachers and parents as well as the report card document is in English. There is a wealth of resources available to help parents support and encourage their child’s learning.
My Child in School: A Resource for Parents (French Immersion Program)
A website that offers a brief curriculum overview of each compulsory course per grade level.
Canadian Parents for French - Manitoba
A website of an association of parents dedicated to furthering bilingualism by promoting and creating opportunities for youth to learn and use French.
French for Life
A website about learning and living in French in Manitoba.
If you would like more information on the French Immersion program at École Macneill, I am open to your questions, and to offering an inside view of the learning that occurs at École Macneill. Or visit our website at https://macneill.mvsd.ca/.
Language is integral to the human experience. It contributes to the cultural and linguistic richness of society, to personal fulfillment, and to mutual understanding. In an increasingly multicultural society, language competencies and intercultural understanding are no longer just optional extras; they are an essential part of being a world citizen.