Receiving an exemption from a graduation-requirement course may happen in consultation with principals and special education resource teachers only if there are significant Special Education needs directly related to course content or skills. All French programs are designed to support students with exceptionalities and teachers are highly trained to provide strategies and supports to ensure success for all students.
French Immersion
Core French Program
Unless they are enrolled in Extended French or French Immersion, all elementary students take Core French. This might begin in your school in Grade 1 or in Grade 4, but regardless all Halton students complete elementary Core French with a minimum of 600 hours of French instruction. In order for students to earn their high school diploma, students need to take at least one Core French language credit at the secondary level.
Acton High School offers Core French at both the applied and academic levels for grade 9 students. Those wishing to continue their studies in the Core French program may also take French in grades 10 – 12. Our Core French program at Acton High School provides many opportunities for students to continue to develop their skills and interests in the French language and culture.
Extended French Program
Extended French is a grades 7- 12 program whereby students must complete a minimum of 1260 hours of French by the end of Grade 8. In order to complete the Extended French graduation requirements, students need to take at least seven credits of Extended French at the high school level including 4 French Language Arts courses and a minimum of 3 other courses where the language of instruction is French.
Acton District School does not offer the Extended French program as it is not offered by our feeder schools.
Immersion French Program
Acton High School offers an exceptional French Immersion Program based on high standards, diverse experiences, and a focus on the celebration of French culture.
French Immersion is a grades 1- 12 program whereby students must complete a minimum of 3800 hours of French by the end of Grade 8. In order to complete the French Immersion graduation requirements, students need to take at least ten credits of French Immersion at the high school level including 4 French Language Arts courses and a minimum of 6 other courses where the language of instruction is French.
French Immersion students receive a Halton Certificate of French Immersion Studies.
Our students study Science, History, Geography, Healthy Active Living, Careers and Civics and Social Science courses delivered entirely in French by dedicated and passionate professionals. Because our French Immersion model is designed such that students take most of their compulsory French credits in Grade 9 and 10, we ensure that students are able to maximize their choice of electives in their senior years (Grades 11 and 12) in order to best meet their post-secondary goals.
FAQs
Do students with IEPs have to take Core French in high school?
What should we be thinking about when deciding whether to take Academic or Applied level French?
A realistic view of the student’s work habits and ability is the first step. If your student is selecting applied level courses in other subject areas, then chances are that Applied French may be the best choice as well. The same is true when considering Academic French. Students do encounter challenges in both abilities and interests from time to time in all subject areas, and so Grade 8 students should consider their strengths, interests and pathway goals when selecting course levels. Your elementary teachers can also make recommendations.
Having a high level of proficiency in French can open many doorways and provide multiple career opportunities for students in the future. The French Immersion program at Acton High School consists of the same skill expectations as the CEFR (Common European Framework for References of Language) as a way to foster the proficiency of our French Language learners. A French Immersion certificate would be a highlight of any resume.
Some information to consider:
While both the French Immersion and Extended French programs generate a certificate upon graduation, the certificate delineates the intensity of the learning and the number of hours of French language instruction.
Certificates are provided in all boards
Students enrolled in Catholic boards may also be required to take additional religious education courses to meet their graduation requirements.
The Halton District School Board supports the Ontario Ministry of Education's vision and goals for French as a Second Language (FSL) programs. All programs in the French as a Second Language curriculum at the elementary and secondary levels share a common vision.
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.
In each French as a Second Language program (Core and Immersion), 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 francophone cultures
- Appreciate how connected and interdependent the global community is
- 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.
HDSB offers Core French and French Immersion learning pathways. Core French begins in grade 1, and the optional French Immersion has a grade 2 entry point.
Both Core French and French Immersion Tracks
- Can be followed until the end of Grade 12
- Will result in proficiency in French
- Cover all four strands (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
- Use authentic tasks, the action-oriented approach, new vocabulary and repetition to bring students to proficiency
- High expectations for students to engage with the language
Additional Core French & French Immersion Information
- Learning the language in a literacy based and focused way
- Time for practice is incorporated into class time
- Frequency (varies from school to school for completion of a minimum required hour count of 600 by the end of Grade 8, as per the Ministry of Education)
- Grades 1-3: 1 period per week
- Grades 4-5: 2-4 periods per week
- Grades 6-8: 4-5 periods per week
- Learning the language in an integrated way, using many subjects
- Some schools are dual-track, meaning they offer both programs, some schools only offer Core French, in which case students would change schools to register in French Immersion
- Frequency:
- Grade 2: 100%
- Grade 3: 80%
- Grades 4-8: 50% of the day
- Registration opens in December, and closes at the end of January during the grade one year.
- An email will be sent to parents of grade 1 students announcing when registration will begin
- The registration button can be used by families within HDSB or from out-of-Board
- Considerations for families while deciding on registration for French Immersion:
- How has my child’s language development progressed?
- How well has my child engaged in the Primary Core French program?
- How has my child’s math development progressed?
- What information has been shared with me about my child’s learning strengths and needs?
- Have I considered the information from the Progress Report?
- Would my family adapt to potentially having students at different schools?
- Have I considered potentially changing schools again if my child decided to demit from the program mid-year?
- Grade 1 Parent Information French Immersion Program
- To see if your neighbourhood school offers French Immersion, please check “Find My Local School”
- If you have questions, please call your local school offering French Immersion
Learn More About Registering for HDSB French Immersion
- Core French students in grade 12
- French Immersion students in grade 12
- Self-select level A2-B2 for the exam
- Students who pass the exam will receive a world-recognized DELF certificate
FSL Programs and Students with Special Needs
For more information about French as a Second Language programs in English-language school boards, including students with special needs and English language learners, refer to the information and resources posted on the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
In the Halton District School Board, we believe that every child is capable of learning French. There are six principles set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education that guide our work:
- French as a Second Language programs are for all students
- Teaching and learning French is recognized and valued
- French as a Second Language serves as a bridge between languages and cultures
- Learning French as a Second Language strengthens literacy skills
- Research informs decision-making, and
- Learning French as a Second Language is a lifelong journey
FSL Homework Toolbox
This site supports parents who have children in a “French Immersion” (FI) program and wish to assist them with homework in French. It is also a resource for FI students who require an accessible user friendly reference tool to help with homework. Learners and educators in other FSL programs will also find it helpful.
Additional Resources
- Government of Ontario - French as a Second Language
- Government of Ontario - French as a Second Language Programs
- French as a Second Language (2013)
- Online Resources to Support Your Child at Home with FSL Acquisition