Core French and French Immersion in Ontario: a guide for parents
Many Ontario families wonder how Core French and French Immersion differ, when each starts, and how to help at home if you don't speak French. Both follow the Ontario French as a Second Language (FSL) curriculum, and Gradelings practises both as optional subjects you can switch on for each child.
Core French and French Immersion side by side
| Core French | French Immersion | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | French as one school subject, taught every week alongside classes in English. | A program where a large share of the school day, including other subjects, is taught in French. |
| When it starts | Core French is taught in English-language schools from Grade 4 to Grade 8. | Early French Immersion usually begins in Grade 1, and some boards also start in Kindergarten or later, in Grade 4 or Grade 7. Entry points differ by school board. |
| Who it suits | Every child can learn some French. No earlier French is needed. | Families who want their child to become fluent. Programs and entry points differ by board, so check with yours. |
| Name in the curriculum | Core French (French as a Second Language) | French Immersion (French as a Second Language) |
| In Gradelings | Grades 4 to 9. Prompts are in English, with French words and sentences to read, choose and build. | Grades 1 to 9. Prompts and stories are in French, with English hints for parents. |
Programs differ by school district. Your school and district have the current details.
What Core French children learn
Core French builds everyday communication: greetings, numbers, family, school, food, weather, hobbies and describing people and places. In the upper grades children start to write short texts, use common verbs and ask and answer questions. The aim is confidence with simple, real conversations.
What French Immersion children learn
In immersion, children learn to listen, speak, read and write in French, and learn other subjects in French too. Younger children start with songs, stories and routines, then move on to sentences, paragraphs and longer texts. English reading and writing are taught as well. How much is in French in each grade depends on the school board.
How report cards describe French
French is reported with the same Levels 1 to 4 as other subjects. In Grades 1 to 6 the levels appear as letter grades, and in Grades 7 to 9 as percentages. Teachers look at listening, speaking, reading and writing together. Gradelings shows practice, not a report card mark, so ask your child's teacher what the level means for your child.
French in secondary school
In Grade 9 and beyond, students can take French as a second language courses for credit. French is also one of the options students use to meet diploma requirements, so ask your school's guidance counsellor about the pathway that suits your child.
Helping if you don't speak French
You don't need French to help. Ask your child to teach you a word each day, listen while they read aloud, and celebrate effort over accuracy. Mistakes are a normal part of learning a language.
How Gradelings fits in
French is off by default. A parent can switch on Immersion, Core French or both for each child in Settings, under Subjects. French is not counted toward the Grade Champion trophy, and French lessons are read aloud with a French voice from your device. You can pick that voice in Settings.
Ways to practise French at home
- Pick one new French word each day and use it at dinner or on the way to school.
- Label a few household objects with sticky notes in French.
- Listen to French songs or watch a short French video together and talk about what you noticed.
- Ask your child to read a page aloud in French, then retell it to you in English.
- Play a French game: count stairs, name colours, or spell a word out loud.
Common questions
When does Core French start in Ontario?
Core French is taught from Grade 4 in English-language schools. Your school or board can tell you how much time it gets each week.
Can my child start French Immersion later?
Some boards offer middle or late immersion, often starting in Grade 4 or Grade 7, and some have limited spaces. Entry rules differ, so ask your school board.
Will French Immersion hurt my child's English?
English reading and writing are still taught in immersion, and research has generally found that immersion students do well in English. If you are worried, talk with your child's teacher.
Do French marks count toward the Grade Champion trophy in Gradelings?
No. French is a separate, optional set of subjects. Children earn their own French trophies instead.
Does Gradelings replace French class?
No. It gives short, kind practice that matches the topics in the Ontario curriculum. It doesn't replace a teacher, and its levels are not a report card mark.
Also see: Ontario report cards explained.
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