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CPF MAGAZINE advertorial What the “Phoneme”? By Jenny Gray, Linguist As an Anglo in this Franco-Anglo nation, it is important to me that we try to do better to become bilingual. I was inspired by PM Pierre Trudeau to be part of the change to become a bilingual nation. I believe that there has to be a simple method to make this happen. There is – phonemes. There’s a lot of buzz around phonological awareness and phonemics. Phonological awareness is the manipulation of sound and is a predictor of one’s reading ability¹ , ². Phonemics is the decoding or breaking down the words into syllables and even further drilling down into units of sound for developing the skills to be able to learn to read, write, speak and comprehend another language. It is through the mastery of sounds that we can differentiate meaning of words. We have the skill to identify different verb tenses in other languages so we can decode if the person “will” do something or if they simply “would” do something. In learning the phonemes, n students learn to become proficient in spelling as they learn what letter blends make which sounds. n students learn proper pronunciation to be understood worldwide in the new language. n students can begin to read fluidly. n remedial learning time is reduced. n emergent readers success rate becomes enhanced. The process of learning a new language is enhanced by knowing how to formulate the sounds properly. Through learning the phonemic structure in the target language, we can truly be successful with our French core and immersion programs! n ¹ http://bit.ly/2uzDHso ² There is a lot of theory supporting phonemic awareness just google these great minds: Grevisse, Goose , Lyon, Juel, Ehri, Leslie Wade-Woolley, National Reading Council and of course, Ferdinand de Saussure. 24 Canadian Parents for French Vol 5 • Issue 1 • 2017
Adapt Intensive Core French to Educational Realities By Joan Netten, co-designer of intensive French and Past President, CPF National Board and Marie-Beth Wright, National Volunteer of the Year (2010), and Past President, CPF Newfoundland and Labrador Board Prior to the 2016-2017 school year, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School Board, faced with budgetary challenges from the province’s government, cut back on intensive French classes 1 , thereby disappointing numerous Grade 6 students. Indeed, revision of French programs in some other provinces and territories has also raised concerns that educational cutbacks will reduce opportunities for students in intensive French (IF). In the current restrictive financial climate, we urge educators and parents to think outside the box about the delivery of this immensely popular and effective second language program. IF can be modified and yet maintain its enrolment and curriculum objectives. In school boards where IF begins in Grade 6, proposed reductions in Grade 6 classes and dual grading in some Grade 5 and 6 classes need not result in the loss of a great number of IF classes, since intensive French can begin in Grade 5, not just in Grade 6. The program is generally offered in Grade 6, as is the case in Newfoundland and Labrador, but is introduced in New Brunswick and in certain other provinces and territories in Grade 5. Teaching guides are the same for both grade levels, therefore, offering the program in Grade 5 would not require obtaining new curriculum resources. Furthermore, teachers instruct either grade or combined classes, using the same teaching strategies so no extra teacher training is required. As well, teaching guides are available for all levels of the program to the end of high school so creating additional curriculum guides for post intensive French classes classes would not be necessary. Intensive French is often offered in combined Grade 5/6 classes and they function successfully. Guidelines for combined classes over a two-year period have been prepared for several jurisdictions, and can readily be adapted for use in other situations. Other than the standard adjustments necessary for teaching combined classes, there are no extra costs to the department of education involved. It would be unfortunate if any potential students should lose the opportunity to participate in the only program, other than immersion, where a majority of the students learn to communicate spontaneously in French. In 2014-2015, there were approximately 34,000 Canadian students in IF classes; since its introduction in 1998, over 70,000 students have participated since the initial year. In New Brunswick, all children, except French immersion students, experience intensive French from Grade 5. Before the development of IF, only about two per cent of New Brunswick’s core French students reached a level in oral testing that indicated spontaneity speaking in French using complete sentences. Recently, Fiona Stewart, French consultant at the N.B. Department of Education, reported that, since IF was introduced, the percentage has increased to 45.7 per cent. The departments of education in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nova Scotia, as well as the Calgary Public School Board, have also documented increased communication skills and increased motivation for learning French. The IF program is not only an effective, but also an interesting, way of learning French. The target language is used in authentic situations; students express their own ideas, and are personally involved in their instruction. Group work and interactive learning strategies encourage a co-operative learning environment. Another educational advantage is that Continued on next page 4 Canadian Parents for French Vol 5 • Issue 1 • 2017 25
Page 1 and 2: CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH CPF MAG
Page 3 and 4: cpf magazine canadian parents for f
Page 5 and 6: Recognizing FSL Educators Teachers
Page 7 and 8: students who come in hating French
Page 9 and 10: Support for Post-Secondary Students
Page 11 and 12: language, and some where French is
Page 13 and 14: Collège de Sainte-Annede-la-Pocati
Page 15 and 16: CPF MAGAZINE cpf programming Every
Page 17 and 18: CPF-Ontario undertook a review of t
Page 19 and 20: Two years ago CPF-National embarked
Page 21 and 22: Does the Candidate Have to Speak Fr
Page 23 and 24: CPF MAGAZINE partner news Discoveri
Page 25: On June 12th, 2017, three former Co
Page 29 and 30: Au Plaisir de lire en français Boo
Page 31 and 32: Celebrating Montreal! By Simon de J
Page 33 and 34: CPF MAGAZINE advertisers’ directo
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