Grade 2 French Immersion: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 french immersion in the Nova Scotia Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- French Immersion is first and foremost a language program: French is both the language students learn in and the language they learn.
- Early French Immersion begins in Primary and Late French Immersion in Grade 7, and both follow Français arts langagiers.
- Students listen, speak, read and write in French for real purposes and audiences.
- Reading a range of French texts, including texts from Acadian and other francophone communities, builds comprehension and a love of reading.
- Learning in French builds a proud, confident, plurilingual identity and a connection to francophone communities in Nova Scotia, Canada and around the world.
Easy ways to practise french immersion at home
- Read a short French book or comic together a few times a week, and talk about it in either language.
- Ask your child to teach you one new French word or grammar rule a day.
- Watch a French show with the French subtitles on, then retell the story.
- Keep a short French journal: one or two sentences a day.
What each unit covers
Le, la, un, une
Choosing the right article (le, la, un, une) for a noun. In French every noun is masculine or feminine, so nouns are best learned with their article.
Les adjectifs
Making an adjective agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
L'ordre des mots
Building simple French sentences: who or what, then the action, then the rest.
Les contes
Features of fairy tales and folk tales, including well-known French tales, and why cultures share stories.
D'abord, ensuite, enfin
Words that show time (d'abord, ensuite, enfin) and place (sur, sous, dans, près, loin), and putting events in order.
Être et avoir
The present tense of the two most important verbs in French, être (to be) and avoir (to have).
What the report card levels look like at home
- Needs development
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing as expected
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Well developed
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Well developed and 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 Nova Scotia report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 2 child with french immersion?
Read a short French book or comic together a few times a week, and talk about it in either language. Ask your child to teach you one new French word or grammar rule a day. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 2 french immersion in Nova Scotia?
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Grade 2 french immersion units include le, la, un, une, les adjectifs, l'ordre des mots, les contes, d'abord, ensuite, enfin, être et avoir.
Free printable Grade 2 french immersion practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.