Core French
The aim of the Core French program is to develop the learner’s ability to effectively communicate in French. At all levels, the focus is on a multidimensional curriculum that integrates communicative/experiential, culture, general language education, and language components. Core French is a compulsory course for all students in Grades 4 to 9 in Nova Scotia.
Integrated French
Nova Scotia’s regional centres for education (RCEs) may offer an Integrated French program to students in English schools wishing to improve their skills in French. The Integrated French program begins in Grade 7 and goes up to Grade 12.
Students in Grades 7 and 8 enrolled in such a program take a French language arts class and a social studies class in French. In Grade 9, students take a French language arts class and the Citizenship 9 class in French.
Students in Grades 10 to 12 take a French language arts class and another class in French (that is not part of the Core French program). The second class must be in career development, personal development or social studies. The French language arts class is designed to meet the students’ language needs in the second subject area.
French Immersion
Nova Scotia’s regional centres for education (RCEs) may offer a French Immersion program to students in English schools wishing to improve their skills in French.
The French Immersion program enables them to learn French in a different way, within a structure that provides more intensive teaching and learning. The program focuses on literacy throughout the learning process in the various subjects taught in French. In Nova Scotia, students have two ways of accessing the French Immersion program.
Early French Immersion starts in Primary and goes up to Grade 12. Students enrolled in this program receive between 85% and 100% of their instruction in French from Primary to Grade 2, between 70% and 80% from Grade 3 to Grade 6, between 70% and 75% in junior high, and 50% in senior high. The time spent on instruction in French in senior high (50%) counts for nine credits in French (Core French being excluded).
The Late French Immersion program starts in Grade 7 and goes up to Grade 12. During each year of junior high, students take five courses taught in French. This represents between 70% and 75% of instruction in French. Late Immersion courses in French for students in Grades 7 to 9 include language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, and healthy lifestyles. These courses’ content is comparable to that of courses in the English program.