2019-2020 French Immersion and Dual Program Handbook

FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

www.westislandcollege.ab.ca

7410 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB

Tel: 403.255.5300

2019 - 2020

French Immersion and Dual Program HANDBOOK Table of Contents Purpose/Promise 3 Language, Culture and Values: Beyond French Immersion

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International Languages & Culture (ILC) - Academic Offerings 4 French Immersion 5 French as a Second Language

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Spanish as a Second Language

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WIC Bilingual Diploma in French & English

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Beyond the Classroom 13 Cultural & Active Citizenship Experiences

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International Languages & Culture Awards & Scholarships

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Director of International Languages & Culture: Ms. Sandrine Berezowski sandrineberezowski@mywic.ca phone: 403.255.5300 fax: 403.252.1434 2

FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

Purpose

To provide students with the ability to talk to others and gather information beyond the world of English, which will contribute to their personal development in becoming an informed and responsible world citizen.

To provide students with valuable communicative skills for today’s changing global job market and acquaint them with the foremost thinkers and writers of countries beyond the English speaking world. Studying second languages and the cultures in which they are spoken, as well as the literature which best represents their most celebrated expression, will widen students’ intercultural awareness.

Promise

To think outside the box: students will think imaginatively, using new, imaginative ideas instead of traditional or expected ideas.

To invest our time and energy in continuous improvement, innovation and opportunities.

To be visible and recognized as the city’s best International Languages & Culture program.

The program is designed: •

To foster global citizenship.

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To improve a student’s ability to understand and communicate with people from different origins, cultures, and backgrounds.

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To increase a student’s competitiveness in a global and multilingual market.

Le Programme des pages Ottawa

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Language, Culture and Values: Beyond French Immersion Langue, culture et valeurs : au-delà de l’immersion en français At WIC, we teach French as a first language and our teachers use a high level of language in a wide variety of accents and dialects including Alger, Brittany, Lyon, Paris, Geneva, Québec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, British Colombia and Alberta. Students take AP French Language & Culture and the DELF, they graduate with a Bilingual Diploma, an International Language & Culture Certificate and are exposed to La Francophonie – the cultures & histories of the many French-speaking nations worldwide.

We also encourage students to go beyond!

At WIC, students can learn Spanish & French as a second language from Grade 7 to Grade 12. They can also take the DELE. Last year, we introduced Mandarin workshops where more than 40 students attended the 8-week introductory program during Focus Friday and 170 students participated in 3 Japanese, Hindi, Swahili & Portuguese workshops. We had many cultural & international events, conferences, and bilingual webinars every month.

And this summer 2019, our students went beyond! Students participated in many national and international summer programs: SHAD, Perdue University, Yale Young Global Scholars, Explore and FNJA – The National Ambassador Youth Forum. They had the opportunity to understand different cultures, philosophies and educational models.

These exposures are critical in our global village. Nous les encourageons à vivre une citoyenneté mondiale.

French also has a role to play in global communication, thanks to the international media channels TV5Monde (55 million weekly viewers), France 24 (45.4 million weekly viewers), and Radio France International (40.1 million listeners) and the Internet.

International Languages & culture (ILC) - Academic Offerings International Languages & Cultures (ILC) currently offers studies in French Immersion, French as a Second Language and Spanish as a Second Language.

Students are also exposed to a Chinese Introductory Program, American Sign Language and a variety of workshops in Japanese, Afrikaans, Creole, and Khmer for 2019-2020.

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

As human beings, we are increasingly confronted with the need to live in a globalized context. One of the major challenges facing our society is to understand and learn how to work collaboratively with other societies in search of common interests. We are increasingly in need of professionals who have both linguistic and cultural literacy that extends beyond the English-speaking world. The ILC curriculum is designed to provide our students with a unique and adaptable set of skills across languages and cultures: critical thinking, an ability to negotiate ambiguity and difference, strong communication skills, and a global mindset.

French Immersion Instructional time in the French Immersion Program is allocated in the following way: Grade levels

French instructional time

English instructional time

Grades 7-9

50% - 57%

43% - 50%

Grades 10-12 30% 70%

Program of Studies (French Immersion) 1.

French Language Arts / FLA (Grades 7-12)

2. English Language Arts / ELA (Grades 7-12) 3. MathÊmatiques in French (Grades 7-10) / Math in English (Grades 11 & 12) 4. Études sociales in French / Social Studies (Grades 7-12) 5. Les sciences in French (Grades 7-9) / Science in English (Grades 10-12)

Le programme Explore & le Forum pour jeunes Canadiens

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6. Health & Physical Education in English (Grades 7-10) 7. PATs in Grade 9 in French (FLA – Mathématiques – Les sciences – Études Sociales) 8. PATs in Grade 9 in English (ELA) 9. Diploma Exams in FLA & Études Sociales in French (Grade 12) 10. Diploma Exams in ELA, Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology in English (Grade 12) 11. French 30 Challenge Exam (Grade 12) 12. Advanced Placement French Language and Culture/AP French 35 (Grade 11) 13. Options in English: Fine Arts – Band – Multimedia – Leadership – Engineering - Business (Grades 7-12)

WIC Bilingual Diploma The Bilingual Diploma is awarded to those Grade 12 students who have successfully completed 35 credits of study in which the language of instruction was French. Please refer to page 12 for more details.

The Advanced Placement French Language and Culture (AP 35 French / Grade 11) •

The AP French Language and Culture course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The AP French Language and Culture course strives not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication.

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The AP French Language and Culture course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products (e.g., tools, books, music, laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions).

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AP 35 French (Grade 11) School Average: 94%

FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

DELF - Diplôme d'études en language française •

In addition, all French Immersion students have access to the DELF secondlanguage proficiency assessments (Diplôme d’études en langue française).

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The DELF is an official diploma from France's national Ministry of Education.

It is valid for life, awarded and recognized around the world.

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Each year, more than 300,000 diplomas are awarded worldwide (Canada: 81 in 2005, nearly 3000 currently).

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An evaluation of second-language proficiency: the DELF officially certified the ability of students to use the French language in real-life situations based on the sex competence levels identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFRL) for Languages, an international standard.

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DELF B1 (Grades 9-10) French Immersion School Average: 85%

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DELF B2 (Grades 11-12) French Immersion School Average: 88%

Why take the DELF? •

to measure and certify your French skills on an international level

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to enrol in a French-speaking university (Level B2 required)

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to work in a francophone region

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to enhance your resume and your professional mobility

What is assessed?

Four language competencies are evaluated with the total possible score of 100 marks.

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Listening comprehension

Diplômé(e)s du DELF B1 & B2

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Reading comprehension

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Writing Skills

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Oral presentation and interaction

Each section is worth 25 marks. You only need a total of 50/100 to receive the certificate!

French as a Second Language (FSL) Program of Studies Second-language learning provides significant cognitive and academic benefits.

It is known to enhance first-language and overall literacy skills as well as provide a foundation for the learning of additional languages. In an era of increasing globalization, it is critical to heighten students’ awareness that English-French bilingualism is an economic and cultural asset both within Canada and beyond.

French as a Second Language (Grades 7-9) The goal of our 7-9 FSL program is for students to gain a solid foundation in French in order to communicate at a basic level. They will gain insight into French as a living language spoken around the world and be able to compare and contrast French cultures with their own.

French as a Second Language 10-20-30 (Grades 10-12) At the 10-20-30 level, students continue to develop the skills necessary (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) to become lifelong learners. They are given multiple opportunities to: •

listen and respond to texts and to others

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speak and interact with others

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read, view, and respond to a variety of texts

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write a variety of texts for many different purposes and audiences

Dom Juan, "Molière en scène"

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

Listening and speaking skills are the springboards for reading and writing. While the curriculum strikes a balance between these four distinct but interconnected skills, oral communication (listening and speaking), is paramount for second language acquisition.

Spanish as a Second Language Why Study Spanish as a Second Language? - ¿Por qué aprender español?

There are many Spanish speaking countries in the world as Spanish is the official language the following countries: Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Although it is not an official language, Spanish is commonly spoken in the United States, Belize, Andorra, and Gibraltar.

Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world (list of languages by the total number of speakers, first language + second language combined), following English, Mandarin, Chinese, and Hindi-Urdu. There are more than 512 million speakers of Spanish. In addition to the 442 million native speakers, just shy of 70 million people around the world speak Spanish as a second language.

In the United States, more than 41 million people speak Spanish as a first language (about 13% of the population), and that number continues to grow.

Additionally, the U.S. is home to nearly 12 million bilingual Spanish speakers.

This makes it the second-largest Spanish speaking country in the world (after Mexico), but one study predicts it will be the largest by 2050. Spanish is the most studied language in the U.S. Apart from the common advantages related to the learning of an international language, Spanish permits insight into the rich and varied cultures developed in the Spanish-speaking world. Opportunities for Spanish learners are abundant.

You can learn Spanish for travel, work, or to connect with your neighbours.

In today’s global world, the knowledge of a second language and culture like

La clase de cocina en español

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Spanish is an economic advantage for individuals, providing skills that enable them to communicate and interact effectively in the global marketplace and workplace.

Facts about Spanish: •

50% of American college students and more than 70% of K-12 students choose to learn Spanish.

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Spanish is the third most used language on the Internet.

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Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers

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Arabic has had a large influence on the Spanish language.

Program of Studies Spanish as a Second Language Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE) – Grades 7-9 This course will focus on beginner and intermediate Spanish grammar, writing, oral comprehension, and conversation skills. It will incorporate short stories, movie studies, geography, and an introduction to the political landscape in Latin America, the United States, and Spain.

ELE 10-20-30 (Grade 10-12) Spanish 30 is designed for students who have previously studied Spanish.

This course will continue its focus on intermediate Spanish writing, grammar, oral comprehension, and conversation skills, including vocabulary lists, oral comprehension activities, dialogues, compositions, skits, games, and videos.

DELE (A1-A2) Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) are official titles certifying a degree of competence and mastery of the Spanish language, granted by

DELE Candidatos Afortunados

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport of Spain. The Instituto Cervantes organizes examination sessions, while the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain designs the exams and is in charge of corrections and the final evaluation of all exams.

Summer Spanish Immersion & Cultural Experience in Costa Rica This is an amazing opportunity for students to practice their Spanish while travelling around this gorgeous country. We make so many friends at the local high school and practice our Spanish as we travel! We have Spanish classes every day during the week at Academia Tica, the Spanish Language school where we study and live for two full weeks. Academia Tica is an Instituto Cervantes Accredited Centre and uses international standards, modern methodologies, and has highly-trained and caring teachers in small group settings. The residences are comfortable, colourful and homey! We participate in interesting and fun activities, go on daily excursions, as well as a weekend trip to Arenal Volcano National Park, with guides providing tours in Spanish. This is what our students said about this trip: “COSTA Y ACADEMIA TICA FUERON ESPECTACULARES Y NO PUEDO ESPERAR A VOLVER AQUÍ” “Costa Rica and Academia Tica were spectacular and I can’t wait to come back!” ~WIC Student “¡MI EXPERIENCIA EN COSTA RICA FUE INCREÍBLE….APRENDÍ QUE COSTA RICA ES UN PAIS HERMOSO, Y ACADEMIA TICA ES ASOMBROSA!” “My experience in Costa Rica was incredible…I learned that Costa Rica is a beautiful country and Academia Tica is amazing.” ~WIC student

Costa Rica Trip

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WIC Bilingual Diploma •

In addition to the Alberta High School Diploma, students can earn a Bilingual Diploma.

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The key requirement is that students study in two languages (French & English).

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The Bilingual Diploma is awarded to those Grade 12 students who have successfully completed 40 credits of study in which the language of instruction was French, one DELF Diploma (B1 or B2) and the AP French Language & Culture.

Program of Studies FLA – Mathématiques – Les sciences – Études Sociales (Grades 7-9) PATs in FLA – Mathématiques – Les sciences – Études Sociales (Grade 9) AP French Language & Culture (Grade 11)

DELF B1 (Grade 9) / B2 (Grade 12) FLA 10-20-30 (Grades 10-12) Mathématiques 10 (Grade 10)

Études Sociales 10-20-30 (Grades 10-12) •

Bilingual scholarships. Most post-secondary institutions have a special program for bilingual students.

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The Bilingual Diploma is also defined as a means to describe and measure language proficiency, cultural experiences, and to stand out at the postsecondary level. The ability to master two languages is not just impressive, it is award-worthy. That is why scholarship providers like to reward languageloving students with bilingual scholarships. Most post-secondary institutions have a special program for bilingual students. For example, the universities of Ottawa, McGill, and Alberta (Campus Saint-Jean) have generous scholarships for bilingual students in Environmental Science, Engineering (First Year), Business (BAA/BCom), Arts, Education, Nursing, Law and Faculty of Medicine (Postgraduate Medical Education).

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Students often get credited up to six credits for the first year on top of bilingual scholarships. In 2017-2018, 75% of the laureates of the WIC Bilingual Diploma received a scholarship and in 2018-2019, 100% of them received a scholarship.

For more detailed information, please contact Ms. Sandrine Berezowski, Director of International Languages & Culture, by email at sandrineberezowski@mywic.ca.

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

Beyond the Classroom Looking back at our adventures over the last few years, we have to commend our student’s openness to embrace diversity with such curiosity and positivity!

Here are a few of the highlights: •

Pencil Vs Camera – Drawing Vs Photography with Francophone artists Nicole Tremblay from Saskatchewan, Patricia Lortie from Québec & Ben Heine from Belgium.

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Québec cultural studies trip - This four-day trip to the city of Québec enabled Grade 7-8 students to enjoy a first-hand experience in French.

Students gained insights into the history of Canada and the FrenchCanadian culture. Most importantly, they made memories in French. Here was the programme: Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac – Old City of Quebec – Battlefields Park – Martello Tower – Artillery Park – Dog Sledding – Hôtel de Glace “the only ice hotel in North America” - Morrin Cultural Centre – Quebec Civilization Museum – Montmorency Falls – Ecole de Cirque – Sugar Shack – Traditional Food – Live Music. Stay tuned for Montréal 2020!

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Dining with the Chef Program – we worked with Chefs Dominique and Jean-Philippe from Suzette Bistro, Tres Marías Mexican Food Market, Sirine Berrached from 8cakes, A taste of Québec and Yum Patisserie from the Farmer’s Market.

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Les FrancoWicies - We welcomed the Francophone Rock Band “Les Marionnettes” on December 6th and 7th, 2018.

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WIC celebrated its “Francophonie” heritage by raising its first FrancoAlbertan flag during its assembly on March 18th, 2019. Dr. Fanny Macé was our special guest and she spoke to our students about the diversity

La Croisée, Radio Canada & Ambassadrice pour FNJA

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and plurality of the Francophonie across Canada. Dr. Fanny Macé currently works in the Division of French and Francophone Studies of the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures (SLLLC) at the University of Calgary. A few students later had the opportunity to speak on the Radio-Canada program "La croisée". They explained how they live their Francophone culture at West Island College.

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170 students have participated in Mandarin, Hindi, Portuguese, Japanese and American Sign Language workshops since September 2018.

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Conferences and webinars (bilingual) with Campus Saint-Jean, University of Calgary, University of Ottawa and Paul Bourassa, Barrister and Solicitor (Mr. Bourassa is a subject matter legal expert with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

Cultural & Active Citizenship Experiences We also invest our time in supporting programs that enrich cultural & active citizenship experiences. We are delighted and proud that 20 students have been selected for a variety of programs such as Page Program, Forum for Young Canadians, Yale Young Global Scholars, The Summer Science Program in Biochemistry at Purdue University, SHAD Program, Explore, Les Voix de la Poésie – Poetry In Voice, Forum National des Ambassadeurs (FNJA). Students travelled

Yale Young Global Scholars

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK

all across North America from September 2018 to August 2019 to enrich their language learning and appreciation while they met multilingual & multicultural students.

International Languages & Culture Awards and Scholarships Bilingual Diploma The Bilingual Diploma is awarded to those Grade 12 students who have successfully completed 40 credits of study in which the language of instruction was French.

French Language Arts This award is given to the Grade 12 student who receives the highest combined mark in French Language Arts 30 and French AP. Creative Writing Award This award of excellence is given to the student who has, in the eyes of the English and French departments, displayed the greatest talent for creative writing in both official languages of Canada.

Poetry in Voice/English stream This special award is presented to a student for distinguished achievement in the memorization and recitation of poetry in English.

Les voix de la poésie/Catégorie francophone Ce prix exceptionnel est décerné à un élève pour la mémorisation et la récitation hors pair de la poésie en français.

Poetry in Voice - Les voix de la poésie / bilingual stream - catégorie bilingue This special award is presented to a student for distinguished achievement in the memorization and recitation of poetry in English and French.

Ce prix exceptionnel est décerné à un élève pour la mémorisation et la récitation hors pair de la poésie en français et en anglais.

Francophonie Award This award is designed to affirm positive attitudes towards la Francophonie and to reward students whose cultural, social & academic engagements positively impact the francophone community at WIC. Requirement includes: •

initiatives that benefited WIC’s Francophone community

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participation in one French language club or French language activity

Costa Rica

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Soyez Audacieux. Soyez Courageux. Soyez Prêts.

Le futur vous appartient!

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FRENCH IMMERSION AND DUAL PROGRAM HANDBOOK