Alternative programs for teaching French as a second language in Ottawa and Carleton schools were evaluated. The study included a cross-sectional replication of previous French listening comprehension testing of grade 4-8 students in the core French program, French proficiency testing of grades 10 and 12 primary and late entry immersion students,…

Describes and evaluates French immersion programs in New Brunswick, covering grades 1-12. (CK)

This preliminary report of the 1988 Manitoba Writing Assessment Program contains a summary of student performance in grade 11 for the provincial sample as a whole. The report is based on 177 test papers from students enrolled in English 200 or English 201 in French Immersion programs. The first chapter describes the spelling exercise, the process…

A survey of school administrators and educational researchers concerning the characteristics desired in elementary school language teachers resulted in rankings of personal qualities, pedagogical skills, and linguistic skills preferred for teachers of three program types: foreign language in the elementary school (FLES), foreign language…

A study of classroom interaction in Ontario's French immersion programs is summarized. Transcripts of classroom interactions were analyzed for teaching practices that tend to decrease or encourage student speech. Results suggest that the use of language in immersion classrooms is not significantly different from language use in regular classes. It…

This mathematics curriculum guide is intended for use in grades 1-7 in the early French immersion program. After an initial listing of textbooks in French for teachers and students, it presents: (1) a general overview of the theory of modern mathematics and a suggested sequence of activities; (2) some notes on the application of the theory and a…

This curriculum guide for the natural sciences is intended for use in grades 1-7 in the early French immersion program. The guide presents the following topics: (1) a list of general objectives; (2) a list of simple skills for children aged 5-8 and for children aged 8-12; (3) activities dealing with matter and its properties, space-time, and human…

Student achievement in grades kindergarten through four in the partial immersion program of the Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board was investigated. Achievement in English and French language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science was assessed using instruments referenced to learning objectives. Student and teacher background…

A fundamental principle of second language acquisition is stated and applied to language teaching. The principle states that learners acquire a second language when they receive comprehensible input in situations where their affective filters are sufficiently low. The theoretical background of this principle consists of five hypotheses: the…

The parents of students in the second year of a kindergarten French immersion program were surveyed to determine their experiences in the program, and a sample of the children who had spent one or two years in immersion was interviewed by a procedure developed for assessing the French language skills. The interview procedure was planned to assess…

The articles collected here are intended to inform parents of all the theoretical and practical considerations involved in initiating and maintaining second language instruction, specifically in French, for the child. Topics covered include: (1) descriptions of types of second language programs; (2) teaching methods; (3) results of research on the…

An examination of existing data was conducted to determine the effects of different kindergarten options on subsequent academic achievement in French immersion programs. It was concluded that there was no evidence for any superiority in outcomes for full-day bilingual as compared to half-day French kindergarten. No clear trends emerged in the…

A total immersion program at North Rose-Wolcott High School, Wolcott, New York, involves speaking in the target language over a period of hours or days, the assistance of at least one fluent speaker for each six students, and a planned schedule of activities. Programs have varied from activities at the home of a teacher, all-day interaction at…

A discussion of three possible formats of a bilingual education program: early total immersion, early partial immersion and late partial immersion. A French cloze test was used to evaluate the lead group of students in each program. A tentative conclusion is drawn in favor of the early total immersion program. (AMH)

A further development of the preceding article outlining the general objectives of the program, the learning activity approach used, and the division of time. A brief description is given of the five kinds of learning activities in the program. The source for further information is given. (Text is in French.) (AMH)