French

Why Study French?

By learning another language you learn more about your own. It helps us understand the difficulty of communication in any language.

You not only learn how to communicate in French, but also learn about the rich culture and history the language has to offer. It helps open your mind to another point of view.

In a bilingual country, speaking French opens the door to more opportunities for employment.

It increases your chance of being able to communicate with others while traveling.

French is spoken in 43 other countries in the world. It’s fun.

What Our Students Have to Say:

Your understanding of one language is compounded by the learning of another. Furthermore, in Canada, a bilingual country, it is a sign of respect to understand the language and so the culture of the other half of the nation. Finally, knowledge is always useful (J.R 2008)

I love learning French because it’s like unlocking a world. One learns about French culture, conversational French, and French in the context of other usage. I think it’s really interesting to be able to learn so much in a class. I find it pretty interesting to actually use French in a skit or dialogue. I have a friend in France and it’s fun to e-mail him in English and French. Even though grammar’s dull sometimes (or always), it’s somewhat exciting to learn how to say things in French in new tenses and to learn new vocabulary. It’s almost like building a picture of the language. (Mike 2008)

It is the language that we were introduced to way back in elementary school. I thought it would be a waste if I just gave it up after 5 years. So, I continued on to Grade 11. Also, learning another language is an enriching experience, and it can be really useful if you decide to travel a lot. As an Olympic athlete had said in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Canadians are viewed as extremely nice and approachable because we speak English and French, two very common languages. (Sharon 2008)

Work and Study Opportunities

• Canadian Education Exchange Foundation
• Summer Work Student Exchange
• Explore – Apprenez l’anglais… it’s in

Canada LINC

Canada Linc is a program based in the Guelph-Kitchener-Cambridge area. It is an opportunity for students from France to come to Canada in order to have a taste of Canadian culture, sites and the Canadian high school system. French students are here for two weeks and spend about 3 days in the classroom with a “buddy”. They travel to sites such as Niagara Falls, Toronto, St. Jacobs, etc. on the days when they are not in class.

For the past few years, we have had students from Centennial billet these students in their homes and become their “buddies” at school when they are attending class. Our purpose is to expose our students to some French culture by asking the French students to talk about their home and school in France. As well, although this is not an exchange program, we hope that our students will be invited back to France, in order to have a larger understanding of French culture and to hopefully form life-long friendships. Usually we have hosted these students in the spring. A decision is made each year as to hosting these students, depending on the number of students we have willing to billet French students.

Monatrice

Each year we have a student from the University of Guelph that works with our French classes once a week to provide language enrichment and to encourage students to speak French through interactive games and activities. She also works with our teachers to reinforce the language structures and vocabulary being studied in class.

She is also available for French conversation and extra help at lunch once a week for all French students. This year the French Club will run Thursdays at lunch in room A212.

French Courses

FSF 1D1 French, Grade 9 (Academic)	This course emphasizes the further development of oral communication, reading, and writing skills. Students will build on and apply their knowledge of French while exploring a variety of themes, such as self, the environment, films and time travel. Thematic readings will serve as stepping stones to oral and written activities.	Minimum of 600 hours of French instruction, or equivalent
FSF 1P1 French, Grade 9 (Applied)	This course continues to develop oral communication, reading, and writing skills, using a broad-based theme such as the media. Students will improve their ability to understand and speak French through conversations, discussions, and presentations. They will be exposed to short stories, articles and songs, and write brief descriptions, letters, dialogues, and invitations.	Minimum of 600 hours of French instruction, or equivalent
FSF 2D1Grade 10, (Academic)	This course enables students to increase their knowledge of the French language, further develop their language skills and deepen their understanding and appreciation of Francophone culture. Exploring a variety of themes, students will develop and apply critical thinking skills in discussion, in their analysis and interpretation of texts, and in their own writing.	FSF1D or FSF1P1 with high level of achievement and recommendation of grade 9 teacher.
FSF 2P1Grade 10, (Applied)	This course emphasizes the further development of oral communication, reading and writing skills using a broad-based theme such as adolescence. Students will expand their knowledge of French by studying a series of theme-related topics, such as students’ rights and responsibilities, relationships with peers and adults, and part-time jobs.	FSF1P or FSF1D1
FSF 3U1French, Grade 11, (University)	This course draws on a variety of themes to promote extensive development of reading and writing skills and to reinforce oral communication skills. Students will gain a greater understanding of French-speaking cultures in Canada and around the world through their reading of a variety of materials, including a short novel or a play. Students will produce various written assignments, including a formal essay. The use of correct grammar and appropriate language conventions in both spoken and written French will be emphasized throughout the course.	FSF2D1
FSF4U1 French, Grade 12, (University)	This course draws on a variety of themes to promote extensive development of French language skills. Students will consolidate their oral skills as they discuss literature, culture, and current issues. They will read a variety of texts and will write a formal essay. The use of correct grammar and appropriate language conventions in both spoken and written French will be emphasized throughout the course.	FSF3U1