Kindergarten French Immersion: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten french immersion in the BC Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- A new language is acquired by listening to and reproducing the models introduced by the teacher.
- Observing codes of politeness, knowing how to listen and letting others speak are practices that facilitate communication and promote respect.
- Images convey meaning and facilitate the understanding of a text.
- Each letter has its own graphic representation and its own sound.
Easy ways to practise french immersion at home
- Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening.
- Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time.
- Name things around the house in French, and ask your child to teach you the words.
- Clap the syllables in French words and play “What rhymes with chat?”
What each unit covers
Bonjour et merci
Greetings and courtesy words in French (bonjour, au revoir, merci, s'il vous plaît, Madame, Monsieur) and good listening habits.
Mes premiers mots
First French vocabulary matched to pictures: animals, fruit, colours and counting to five.
Les lettres
Recognizing letters of the alphabet and matching small letters to capital letters.
Le son du début
Phonemic awareness: hearing the first sound of a word and matching it to other words that begin the same way.
Les syllabes
Phonemic awareness: clapping and counting the syllables in a word.
Les rimes
Phonemic awareness: recognizing words that end with the same sound.
Les histoires
Elements of a story (characters, setting, events) and parts of a book such as the cover and title.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Emerging
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Proficient
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Extending
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the BC report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Kindergarten child with french immersion?
Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening. Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Kindergarten french immersion in BC?
The BC Curriculum Kindergarten french immersion units include bonjour et merci, mes premiers mots, les lettres, le son du début, les syllabes, les rimes.
Free printable Kindergarten french immersion practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.