By Light of Christ Catholic Schools

Keeping Up with Education

Language Learning Limits? No Way!

May 4, 2020 | 12:44 PM

For some second language teachers, remote learning might seem problematic but not for the staff at École Monseigneur Blaise Morand (EMBM)! In fact, over 90% of students at EMBM have continued with supplemental learning opportunities that emphasize Language Arts, Mathematics and Faith. Not only is this a testament of commitment on the part of teachers, support staff, students, and their parents/guardians but it is also a demonstration that education does not have to be limited to the classroom.

French is not spoken in most French Immersion households so one of the biggest challenges that parents overcome early on is the recognition that they can ensure that their children take time to read, practice and complete lessons in both French and English, and that they can put in place the necessary structures like time and a space to work in order to support their children.

What they cannot do, is practice speaking French with their children. As a result, the teachers at EMBM have gone to extra lengths to ensure that students have the opportunity to continue learning in French and especially to continue developing their French oral language capacity.

Oral language development is the key to unlocking the ability to read and write fluently. Unlike students learning in their first language, the majority of French Immersion students do not come to school with learned vocabulary and developed oral language fluency in French.

Therefore, like many staff across the province, EMBM teachers and support staff have turned to greater dependability on video conferencing. The transition to online learning platforms like SeeSaw and Google Classroom has been a challenge for teachers, parents, and students alike. Balancing work, home routines, home learning and the technology learning curve has required patience and persistence on everyone’s part.

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The capacity of EMBM staff to adapt to these online learning environments and to creatively engage their students is impressive. They have truly gone above and beyond!

Many of the EMBM staff members are using one to one virtual meetings with students as a means for not only engaging learners in the supplementary work they are providing, but also to practice and assist students in their French oral language fluency, as well as their written language skills.

Others are making self-recorded videos and voice recordings to provide further learning opportunities. Students, from all reports, are anxious to meet with their teachers and peers on a weekly or even daily basis. For many, this connection time is even the highlight of their week.

Staff also affirm that they very much look forward to and are happy to meet with their students in these virtual settings in order to maintain ongoing relationships with students and provide individual and group academic assistance.

French Immersion is one of the most researched language approaches in the world. Its success has been proven over and over again. For more information about the program or to register your child at EMBM, please see the school website at https://ecolemonseigneur01.wixsite.com/embm or send an email to ecolemorand@loccsd.ca.