The Ministry of Education states:
“The importance of studying French in the Canadian context cannot be overemphasized. French is not only one of Canada’s two official languages, but is also widely used throughout the world with respect to business, culture, and international diplomacy. The ability to communicate in French gives students many advantages, both in Canada and internationally, and helps them gain a better understanding and appreciation of French-speaking societies.
Research studies have shown that students who learn another language develop a number of very useful academic and cognitive skills, which they transfer to learning English and other languages as well as to other subjects. Through second-language learning, students’ problem-solving, reasoning and creative-thinking skills improve; they also tend to be more tolerant and respectful of other cultures. In addition to these academic and social benefits, the ability to communicate in another language provides students with a distinct advantage in a number of careers. Students also derive generic job skills from learning another language – flexibility, communication, the ability to understand complex issues, the capacity for dealing with uncertainty – all skills that are greatly valued in the workplace.”
The Secondary Curriculum Policy Document, Core, Extended, and Immersion French, Grades 9 and 10, September 1998, Ministry of Education
“Children’s capacity for thinking is nearly limitless if we create the learning conditions to support it, if we provide a language to define and describe thinking, and if we simply ask, ‘What else?’, or ‘I know you don’t know, but what would you say if you did know?’ There is always a deeper idea, an idea well beyond the superficial, if we have the patience to ask, and the faith that they will answer.” (Keene, 2008, pp. 244–245)
What is the key to student learning?
“The key to student learning is rich talk – opportunities to talk, opportunities to hear, opportunities to listen ... choral chanting, repetitive talk, structured talk – talk, talk, talk.” (Leaders in Educational Thought, Allan Luke, 2012)
“The importance of studying French in the Canadian context cannot be overemphasized. French is not only one of Canada’s two official languages, but is also widely used throughout the world with respect to business, culture, and international diplomacy. The ability to communicate in French gives students many advantages, both in Canada and internationally, and helps them gain a better understanding and appreciation of French-speaking societies.
Research studies have shown that students who learn another language develop a number of very useful academic and cognitive skills, which they transfer to learning English and other languages as well as to other subjects. Through second-language learning, students’ problem-solving, reasoning and creative-thinking skills improve; they also tend to be more tolerant and respectful of other cultures. In addition to these academic and social benefits, the ability to communicate in another language provides students with a distinct advantage in a number of careers. Students also derive generic job skills from learning another language – flexibility, communication, the ability to understand complex issues, the capacity for dealing with uncertainty – all skills that are greatly valued in the workplace.”
The Secondary Curriculum Policy Document, Core, Extended, and Immersion French, Grades 9 and 10, September 1998, Ministry of Education
“Children’s capacity for thinking is nearly limitless if we create the learning conditions to support it, if we provide a language to define and describe thinking, and if we simply ask, ‘What else?’, or ‘I know you don’t know, but what would you say if you did know?’ There is always a deeper idea, an idea well beyond the superficial, if we have the patience to ask, and the faith that they will answer.” (Keene, 2008, pp. 244–245)
What is the key to student learning?
“The key to student learning is rich talk – opportunities to talk, opportunities to hear, opportunities to listen ... choral chanting, repetitive talk, structured talk – talk, talk, talk.” (Leaders in Educational Thought, Allan Luke, 2012)
