French Programs
Core French Program
HRCE provides all students with the opportunity to learn the French language by offering a Core Program from Grade 4 through to Grade 12. This program enables students to reach a functional level of skills in understanding and communicating in French and is compulsory for Grades 4 to 9 students. Alternatives to the Core Program include Early French Immersion and Late French Immersion, Intensive French and Integrated French programs.
Early French Immersion
The Early French Immersion Program is offered in designated schools. This program begins at the Primary Level and continues through Grade 12. The curriculum provided is that prescribed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development with the percentage of instruction in the French Language apportioned as follows:
- Primary-Grade 2 (90-100%)
- Grades 3-6 (80-85%)
- Grades 7-9 (60-70%)
- Grades 10-12 (A minimum of 9 credits taught in French)
In order to obtain the French Immersion Certificate, students in Grade 12 Early French Immersion must:
- successfully complete French Language Arts in Grades 10, 11 and 12;
- successfully complete a minimum of two courses instructed in French each year;
- successfully complete a total of nine courses instructed in French, representing 50 per cent of the number of credits required for graduation.
The courses offered in the Early French Immersion Program will be as prescribed in the Public Schools Programs document.
Intensive French Program for Grade 6
Intensive French is currently being offered at Ellenvale Junior High, Marine Drive Academy and Herring Cove Junior High. It provides more time for language development as students receive approximately 70% of their classroom instruction in French for five months.
Late French Immersion
The Late French Immersion Program is offered in designated schools from Grades 7 to 12 following the Core French Program in Grades 4 to 6. The curriculum provided is that prescribed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development with the percentage of instruction in the French Language apportioned as follows:
- Grades 7-9 (70-75%)
- Grades 10-12 (A minimum of nine credits taught in French)
In order to obtain the French Immersion Certificate, students in Grade 12 Late French Immersion must:
- successfully complete French Language Arts in Grades 10, 11 & 12;
- successfully complete a minimum of two courses instructed in French each year;
- successfully complete a total of nine courses instructed in French, representing 50 percent of the number of credits required for graduation.
The courses offered in the Late French Immersion Program will be as prescribed in the Public Schools Programs document.
Integrated French
The Integrated French program is offered in designated schools - Marine Drive Academy and Musquodoboit Rural High School. The entry point is at Grade 7, and the program extends to Grade 12. Students enrolled in this program take a minimum of two courses per year where the language of instruction is French, specifically French Language Arts and a variety of Social Studies-based courses.
In order to obtain the Integrated French Certificate, students in Grade 12 Integrated French must:
- successfully complete French Language Arts in Grades 10, 11 & 12;
- successfully complete a minimum of two courses instructed in French each year;
- successfully complete a total of six courses instructed in French, among the the number of total credits required for graduation.