02/03/10

Is My Child a Candidate for French Immersion?

In the spring of each school year, parents wonder if their child should enroll in immersion.  Invariably, parents present their predicament to immersion teachers in the hope of making the best decision either for, or with their child.

When parents ask, “Should I put my child in immersion?”,  most teachers respond with a series of questions that cause parents to consider not only their child’s intellectual and academic development but their social and emotional development as well.

Based on conversations with other French immersion teachers, and my personal experience, a combination of several characteristics  contribute to the development of a successful immersion student.

A successful French immersion student:

ü      is well-versed, competent and confident when speaking, writing and reading his/her own first language;

ü      has a “good ear,” is able to distinguish between different sounds, voice inflection, tone and intonation;

ü      is a good mimic;

ü      enjoys word play, rhymes and tongue twisters;

ü      does not become easily frustrated by setbacks or mistakes;

ü      enjoys challenges and seeks more than one strategy to problem solve;

ü      stays focused and remains on-task;      

ü      is a risk-taker;    

ü      is adaptable;  

ü      is able to work as part of a team;

ü      has good work and study habits;

ü      has interested and supportive parent(s).

If most, or all, of these characteristics aptly describe your son or daughter, there is a strong possibility he/she will be a successful immersion student.

To the surprise of many parents and the relief of some, a successful language learner is not always the outgoing extrovert.  Studies by several researchers have concluded that both personality types – the extrovert and the introvert – bring with them their own strengths and weaknesses to the program.

The extrovert is social, energetic and not easily embarrassed.  She/he tends to be impulsive when speaking the second language giving little regard to correct grammatical use.  This may also be apparent in the written work but corrections in both areas are made over time.

The introvert engages in a quiet more methodical process before speaking and writing.  Although often reluctant to speak, the introvert is still attentive to the sound, nuances, complexities and differences of the second language.  When this student does speak or write, the result tends to be more precise with fewer errors.

As researcher Mary-Ann Reiss states:

…the good language learner may or may not be inhibited.

above all the good language learner is an ACTIVE participant

in the conscious learning process…Even when silent he is active

        mentally and thus becomes a silent speaker.  He answers questions

mentally whether called upon or not.  This may well explain why

the successful language learner need not necessarily be an extrovert.⁵

This site was last updated 06/30/03