DCHP-2

late immersion DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — Education, French relations

  a program to teach French to English speakers beginning in grade 6 or 7 in which most courses are taught in French.

  Type: 1. Origin — OED-3 defines immersion as a 'method or system of teaching (or learning) a foreign language in an environment where all communication is conducted in the language'. In Canada, the term almost always refers specifically to the French language (see French immersion). Late immersion, therefore, is a program starting in Grade 6 or later in which a certain percentage of courses are taught exclusively in French (COD-2, s.v. "late immersion"). The percentage of courses that must be taught in French per school year vary by province and school district but can generally be anywhere from 50 to 80% (see VSB reference). This program contrasts with early immersion, which starts in the primary school years of kindergarten or grade 1. Internet search results indicate that late immersion occurs most frequently in Canada (see Chart 1).
  See also COD-2, s.v. "late immersion", which is marked "Cdn".

  See also: core French  French immersion  early immersion  

  • 1974  The study group also recommends several other options for parents who wish their children to improve proficiency in French. These include: [...] --Late immersion, starting in Grade 7, in which students move on from the basic program to a classroom where all instruction is in French. 
  • 1976  However, Lambert and other experts prefer early to late immersion. One advantage to starting early, he says, is that "you can sneak the language in before they get any unfavorable attitudes." 
  • 1976  French immersion In a chapter on the immersion programs, Mrs. Wightman looks at early immersion beginning at kindergarten and late immersion, which begins in Grade 6 after several years of core French training consisting of between 20 and 40 minutes a day. 
  • 1981  Six B.C. school districts have "late immersion" programs in which sixth graders are taught in French only and eventually catch up with ''early immersion'' learners so both can join in dual language classes in secondary schools. 
  • 1994  In Victoria, there are no entrance requirements as such. Any child can be signed up for the early French immersion program in kindergarten or for late immersion starting in grade 6. 
  • 2008  He also told the Telegraph-Journal in an editorial board meeting last week that the province should have gone further with its French second-language reforms, by eliminating the option of late immersion and promoting a universal program all the way through to high school. 
  • 2015  Worse still, the test showed the majority of those teenagers did not meet the province's goal of speaking French at a high enough level. Of the 632 students who took the French-speaking test, 341, or more than half, did not hit the stated targets - late immersion students are expected to reach the intermediate-plus level, while early immersion students are supposed to obtain the advanced level.