French as a Second Language

Teaching Canada's other official language to more than 90,000 students is an important challenge for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The Board has five special programs for teaching French as a second language in its 201 schools.

Core French

The core French program is offered at all levels in every school. From grade 1 to grade 6, students study French for 20 minutes each day. By grade 7, French instruction is increased to 40 minutes daily. Options vary in the secondary schools, but a student must earn at least one credit in French to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma.

French Immersion

French Immersion was established in 1985 for senior kindergarten and has been extended by one grade each year. Instruction is entirely in French until the end of grade 2; English-language arts are added in grade 3. From grade 5 to grade 8, instruction is given 50 per cent in French, 50 per cent in English.

Extended French

Extended French, often called the 50/50 bilingual program, was launched in 1977 at nine TCDSB centres. There are now more than 2,000 students enrolled in centres across Toronto. Students from grade 5 to grade 8 are taught in French for half the day and in English for the other half. As well as French-language arts, other subjects taught in French include: social studies, physical education/health and visual arts.

Extended French (secondary)

The Extended French program, a continuation of the elementary Extended French program (bilingual program), is offered at several Toronto Catholic secondary schools: Bishop Allen Academy, Brebeuf College, Cardinal Newman, Loretto Abbey, Michael Power/St. Joseph, Marshall McLuhan, Mary Ward, Msgr. Percy Johnson, Pope John Paul II, St. Michael's Choir and Senator O'Connor.

French Immersion (secondary)

The French Immersion program, a continuation of the elementary French Immersion program (Senior Kindergarten to grade 8) is being offered at Bishop Allen Academy and Senator O'Connor since September 1995.

For further information about TCDSB French as a second language programs, contact your child's French-language teacher, the nearest French Immersion/Extended French centre, or the French as a second language department at 416-222-8282, extension 2540.

A complete list of French immersion schools is available in the schools section of this site.