What is French Immersion?

French Immersion is a Canadian made educational program in which a child whose first language is not French - but studies in French. French Immersion began in PEI in 1975 in response to parental demand. Research shows that French Immersion is the most effective way for an Anglophone child to become functionally bilingual.

Here on Prince Edward Island:

Early Immersion starts in Grade 1
Mid Immersion starts in Grade 4
Late Immersion starts in Grade 7

Ideally, in French Immersion programs all activities and learning during elementary grades, except for English Language arts, are in French. Canada's French Immersion programs have attracted positive attention from many countries around the globe. For the last decade some countries, particularly in Europe and the United States, have been offering immersion programs often patterned on the Canadian model. The goal of the French immersion program is to graduate students who are functionally bilingual. This means the graduates are able to communicate effectively in French as well as in English.