Transferring mid-year into a French Immersion Program...Advice needed!

[Sarahtk]

Hello all! I am looking for thoughts/advice on making a decision about schooling for my son after the winter break. We are in the process of relocating to Canada from the U.S., and we have the option of putting my english-speaking child in a French Immersion program for Senior Kindergarten. We really want him to have the opportunity to learn the language, but we worry about the stress of putting him into a program mid-year when all of the children have had french instruction for a couple of months now. My son is outgoing and curious and inquisitive; he wants to learn french...so I don't want to underestimate him and NOT put him in a program; on the other hand, I don't want to over burden him with so many changes and new things happening right at once.

Can anyone in an FI program comment on this? How do you imagine a child transferring mid-year would do?

[kathymuggle]

At K level?  Go for it!

I work in a library that has class visits and I see french immersion K kids all the time.  They know some  basic vocabulary in French, but are certainly not up to sentences or anything.

If you like, you could go over a few key words and phrases:

basic:

colours

numbers

if you have time:

listen

sit down

bathroom

body parts

names for brother, sister, mother, father

I, you 

There is a lot of copying people in K - so if the teacher says go get your coat, and all the other kids get their coat, he will figure it out and not flounder too much.

Welcome to Canada!  Which province are you moving to and where are you coming from?

[GuildJenn]

If the school will let you, I think at kindergarten it should be okay. You will want to help your son with basic school routines - the teacher should be able to give you a list of phrases. You'll also want to be sure he's supported in understanding that it will be a change and an adjustment and that he'll get it eventually, and be aware that he will come home *very* tired from the effort.

[Sarahtk]

Kathy and Jenn, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging responses! Luckily, I have a pretty decent grasp of French and will be able to prep him a little and support him at home. I'll see if we can observe a classroom in action and we'll go from there! We are moving to Ottawa, by the way, from New York City. We can't wait!

[mamatowill]

My oldest DS is in FI in Ottawa. What school? I would not worry about it really. Every school is different and what they don't tell you is that you can actually put your child in at Grade 1. Unless he is going to a totally French immersion school they still use a lot of English in Kindy. My DS1 is in Grade 1 and that is the year that they really do everything in French. I would put him in.

[Sarahtk]

Hi Mamatowill! We've found a place in the Glebe, and our catchment school is the First Avenue School. Any thoughts/sage words on this particular school? We really have ZERO sense of what we are getting ourselves into! :)

[kathymuggle]

Waving from about an hour outside of Ottawa!

Ottawa is a fantastic city, btw, way smaller than NYC, of course.  

If you have specific question, ask here or feel free to pm me.

I do not know much about the First Avenue School.  I do know the Glebe is a nice area.  Trendy, liberal, but still with a hint of Old Ottawa families.  Nice shopping!!!!   I would live there if I could.  It may border downtown which might not be quite as nice - it is hard to know without knowing the catchment district.  The ministry of education publishes results of standardised tests - you can look at it if you are into that sort of thing (grade 3 and 6, no worries for K).  You can also go straight to the Ottawa Carleton school board site to take a look at what is publisized about the school.

edited to add:  OK - I looked up the catchment area - it does not extend north of the 417, so you are probably looking at a public school that pulls from a fairly well to do area.  I am not sure what that means.

[tatermom]

Yes, I would totally go for it.  We just started our DS in French immersion for K nearly 2 months after the school year started (when we finally got in off the waitlist here) and he caught up very quickly. I agree that if you can go over colors, numbers, prepositions, and some basic phrases, then he should be just fine!  At our school kids can join the class up through the middle 1st grade and they still get caught up quickly (after January of 1st grade they'll only take kids who are already fluent).

[mamatowill]

First Avenue is a great school. As Kathymuggle says the catchement area is only the Glebe- you are not near the downtown although I know teachers in those schools and they are great!

[GuildJenn]

Originally Posted by Sarahtk 

Hi Mamatowill! We've found a place in the Glebe, and our catchment school is the First Avenue School. Any thoughts/sage words on this particular school? We really have ZERO sense of what we are getting ourselves into! :)

The Glebe is a great area. We didn't have kids there so I don't know a lot about the school but lots of diplomats and artsy/educated types there. I think you'll enjoy it a lot!