Être bilingue, c'est gagnant! (2022-23)

EMSB elementary schools: The road to bilingualism

Elementary schools at the EMSB offer one of three models of French instruction, with some schools offering dual streams. The English Core model is 68 percent of instruction in English and 32 percent in French. The Bilingual model has an equal part French instruction to English instruction. French Immersion schools offer 68 percent of instruction in French.

The path continues in high school

EMSB offers three programs of French instruction at the high school level to allow for a variety of competencies and interests. These are Ministère de l’Éducation programs and all three culminate with the writing of a ministry exam towards achieving the high school diploma.

Students who graduate from the English core program in elementary school often continue in high school in Français, programme de base. The aim is for students to graduate with the ability to interact in French, orally and in writing, with friends, teachers, and eventually employers and colleagues.

We prepare our students to work or study in French

EMSB’s success rates in delivering the Ministère de l’Éducation program suggest that its students are well prepared to follow the ministry’s Français, langue seconde program at the CEGEP level, according to Anna Villalta, EMSB’s Assistant Director of Educational Services. “A lot of our teachers go above and beyond the Quebec Educational Program,” she said. “They understand the necessity to speak French, to be fluent in French. The expectations our teachers place on our students is much higher than meeting the requirements of the ministry programs.” 

Learning a second language through the arts

Teaching the arts to younger students in particular helps them learn a second language. “It’s easier to learn another language through play,” said Mr. Doyon. “It’s more authentic. The arts provide a playful way of learning French as a second language because of the opportunities to try out the language through the different forms. In drama, for example, children can have fun experimenting with word pronunciation, speed of delivery, rhythm and intonations. It’s a fun way to learn a new language without inhibition.”