Kindergarten French Immersion: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten french immersion in the Alberta Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Listening and speaking in French grow every day when French is the language of learning.
- Reading French texts of many kinds builds comprehension and the habit of reading for meaning.
- Writing in French for a purpose and an audience uses the conventions of the language.
- Understanding how French words, sentences and texts work helps students choose the right words and forms.
- Learning in French connects students with Francophone communities in Alberta, Canada and the world.
Easy ways to practise french immersion at home
- Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening.
- Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time.
- Name things around the house in French, and ask your child to teach you the words.
- Clap the syllables in French words and play “What rhymes with chat?”
What each unit covers
Bonjour et merci
Greetings and courtesy words in French (bonjour, au revoir, merci, s'il vous plaît, Madame, Monsieur) and good listening habits.
Mes premiers mots
First French vocabulary matched to pictures: animals, fruit, colours and counting to five.
Les lettres
Recognizing letters of the alphabet and matching small letters to capital letters.
Le son du début
Phonemic awareness: hearing the first sound of a word and matching it to other words that begin the same way.
Les syllabes
Phonemic awareness: clapping and counting the syllables in a word.
Les rimes
Phonemic awareness: recognizing words that end with the same sound.
Les histoires
Elements of a story (characters, setting, events) and parts of a book such as the cover and title.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- 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 Alberta report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Kindergarten child with french immersion?
Read French picture books together, even if you are learning too. Let your child tell you what is happening. Sing French songs and nursery rhymes in the car or at bath time. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Kindergarten french immersion in Alberta?
The Alberta Curriculum Kindergarten french immersion units include bonjour et merci, mes premiers mots, les lettres, le son du début, les syllabes, les rimes.
Free printable Kindergarten french immersion practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.