subject: French Language Learning and Immersion [print this page] French Language Learning and Immersion French Language Learning and Immersion
French language learning has become a large feature of everyday life. Many schools teach French right through to leaving, and nowadays many employers favour people who are bilingual. French language learning is important to get into early, as when grown up it has many benefits in the employment world, as well as for travel.
French language learning is often done in a process known as immersion. This is where young students are immersed in the environment of this language so they have to come to terms with hearing it and speaking it all the time. This French immersion method of French language learning is done in a few ways.
Some schools have chosen to take on a French immersion system, whereby many classes will be taught in French. This means that within the class, children are often not allowed to speak English, and have to answer all questions and do their homework in French. This means that children very quickly learn to listen to French and understand it. Moreover, having to write and speak in French is very difficult, so French immersion makes this process all the easier for it being compulsory.
When immersion programs such as this are taught from a young age, the child becomes used to alternating between two language, as well as picking up skills which you cannot be taught as easily in a textbook. Some schools use French immersion systems by beginning their day in French, calling the register in French and holding assembly in French. Others have certain classes which are always in French, such as PE or history.
French language learning can also be done in France, or French speaking countries for the real French immersion experience. This means that students are taken abroad for some time, and not allowed to speak English at all. When plunged into the foreign, French speaking culture, students very quickly have to develop communication skills in order to get by. There are all kinds of immersion programmes of this sort, which span all kinds of time lengths. Often children can go to these French immersion trips in the summer holidays, and stay with a family. Other French immersion programmes may include school trips to France where children get a few days to speak to the locals.
French language learning can be facilitated in a number of ways, and is often taught from textbooks in the classroom. However, it has been shown that the best way to pick the language up is to jump right in with a French immersion programme.
