Turnbull School strives to graduate students from Grade 8 with a strong level of conversational and every day, pragmatic French, while also achieving solid skills in French reading, writing and grammar.  In addition, the students will have the desire and confidence to pursue further French studies beyond the basic requirements of high school.

The achievement of this goal is dependent on the number of years the student is at Turnbull School, as well as the language aptitude and motivation of the student. There is a French only environment in French class, with an exception for students newer to French.

Turnbull School's French program focuses on developing fluency from a young age. From JK to Grade 6, the Accelerated Integrated Method (AIM) is used. This is a highly successful second language methodology that incorporates "The Gesture Approach", helping students to more easily acquire the French language and, consequently, allowing teachers to significantly increase both expectations and the children's performance in French. The use of gestures in teaching French accelerates the internalization of the target vocabulary and the use of sentences through a multi-sensory approach incorporating kinaesthetic, visual and auditory modes of learning. Children become very engaged and motivated with this method.  Also, gestures maximize the amount of French that is used in the class because, when the teacher gestures, the whole class says the word or sentence, all while gesturing.  In this way, the repetition that is so necessary in acquiring a second language is accomplished in a motivating and meaningful way.  It also eliminates the need for English in the class!

Many additional resources are available that motivate children, including story books, songs, videos, software and Smart Board activities. The primary and junior Library also has many French books.

Here are the highlights of our French program at each division:

Kindergarten
The goal of our students’ early French learning is to experience and enjoy French in a natural way at various times during the day, without compromising the development of their English literacy and numeracy skills.

• JK and SK have five French language periods per week and additional learning centres focused on French. 
• An integrated model also is used in which French is interjected into the day, such that there is a natural ease between hearing and speaking both English and French with some of the teachers (e.g. some daily routines, calendar time, theme related songs and games).
• The children enjoy a daily bilingual physical education class.
• Classes make regular use of French learning centres and visits to the “French” room where the activities are an extension of the material taught in French language classes.
• A French listening and music centre with popular French stories and songs are used.
• A French reading centre and craft centre encourage the use of French vocabulary while making crafts.
• French computer programs are used.

Primary
Primary students spend 30% of their weekly class time in French. Our approach is in line with the philosophy that it is effective to intensify the exposure time to a second language when children are young and more receptive to it, without taking away from the essential skills being developed in English, and before the curriculum in other subjects intensifies in the junior grades. 

• Primary students have seven French language classes per week.
• One of these is a computer class devoted to French educational programs and activities. 
• L’éducation physique is taught every day.
• SMART Boards are used for various activities that help with vocabulary acquisition. 
• Children learn and perform French AIM plays (at a level one or two years above their intended use).
• Grade 1 and 2 students have a weekly Bilingual Choir class. 

Junior and Senior
At all grade levels the French program is tailored to accommodate the varied backgrounds of our students, including students from French Immersion as well as those with less exposure to French. In Grades 4 to 8, French classes are streamed so students can succeed at a level consistent with their abilities.  Again, French only is spoken in class, with an exception for children newer to French. From Grades 6 to 8, the French curriculum is accelerated by one year.

• There are six French classes per week at each grade in the junior and senior division.
• French AIM plays are performed in Grades 4 to 6, at a level one or two grades above their intended use.
• At each grade, the French classes occur at the same time, allowing some cross grouping to occur within the grade and ensuring that each student is progressing well.
• In Grades 6 to 8, the French curriculum is advanced by one grade level. 
• The reading, writing and grammar skills taught relate directly to pragmatic and conversational skills, giving meaning and relevance to the lessons. 
• The French teachers develop cross curricular activities that focus on some of the topics students are covering in their other classes, such as social studies or science.  They include in their lessons the French vocabulary and phrases that complement the topic from the other classes, thus broadening both the knowledge gained from and the relevance of the French classes.

Beyond Grade 8
Students are encouraged to continue taking French in high school.  Even in Immersion programs, they cannot become bilingual without a much longer term commitment to the language and by also exploring extracurricular opportunities to achieve this.  Turnbull students are exposed to avenues they can take to advance their French as a life skill or, for those more capable and motivated by the language, to see how French may fit with certain careers.  A desire, motivation and enjoyment of French will always continue to drive and enhance our program objectives. 

Many of our students enter high school with a high level of proficiency orally as well as in their written communication skills, qualifying them for an enriched stream of French.  Some of our students have returned to French Immersion in high school. Since our Grade 8 students have completed the Grade 9 French program, they can start with Grade 10 French in high school, depending on the school's ability to schedule it for them. This is handled on an individual basis by the high school.