Grade 9 French Immersion: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 9 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 French novels, comics or articles on topics your child enjoys.
- Ask your child to explain a grammar rule to you, with an example.
- Have your child write a short French note or message to a relative or pen pal.
- Use a French dictionary or conjugation tool together when revising a draft.
What each unit covers
Registres et exposés oraux
Registers of language (colloquial, standard, formal) and speaking to an audience: intention, organization, clarification and explanation.
La fable
Characteristics of the fable (moral, literal and figurative meaning, manners and customs), using an original fable.
Le roman et ses personnages
Characteristics of the novel (modes of narration, function of characters, point of view, setting) and character portrayal (physical and psychological).
Les figures de style
Stylistic elements: personification, metaphor, alliteration, comparison and hyperbole.
La séquence descriptive
Descriptive sequences: introduction, central subject with aspects and sub-aspects, conclusion; enriching a text with varied vocabulary and types of sentences.
Les temps du passé
Choosing among the passé composé, imparfait and plus-que-parfait, and making past participles agree.
Les pronoms compléments
Direct pronouns (me, te, se, le, la, les) and indirect pronouns (me, te, nous, vous, lui, leur, y, en).
Les phrases hypothétiques
Hypothetical sentences with si: matching the tense after si with the tense of the result.
Passé simple et plus-que-parfait
Using the pluperfect (plus-que-parfait) tense and recognizing the simple past (passé simple) in stories.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Minimal
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Satisfactory
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Good
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Very good to excellent
- 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
Read French novels, comics or articles on topics your child enjoys. Ask your child to explain a grammar rule to you, with an example. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Grade 9 french immersion units include registres et exposés oraux, la fable, le roman et ses personnages, les figures de style, la séquence descriptive, les temps du passé.
Free printable Grade 9 french immersion practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.