Important features of practicums for teachers of elementary school language immersion programs include: mentoring and peer coaching; guidance in self-analysis, observation, and reflection on teaching practices; and experience with realities of immersion. A period of induction beyond the practicum is also recommended. (19 references) (MSE)

This report discusses an investigation on the processes involved in the acquisition of French by students in late immersion programs in Australia. An ethnographic style of data collection was used in the study, which covered a full year. (Contains 14 references.) (JL)

It is proposed that negotiation of form can be effective in language immersion instruction. Students are pushed to produce ever more accurate and appropriate utterances, drawing on their own sociolinguistic resources. Examples are provided from an eighth-grade classroom where the teacher uses feedback, questioning, discussion, and…

This paper synthesizes research on the acquisition of linguistic variation by learners of French as a second language--an overview that, to our knowledge, is the first of its kind. It also presents a case study on French immersion students' acquisition of the pronouns "nous" and "on" "we," an alternation in many varieties of spoken French. The…

In this article, I--a White, French-immersion teacher-researcher--engage in a reflective examination of my research and teaching practices involving African American students. My critical reflection of my research examines the instruments used in my comparative study of African American students' experiences in the French-immersion context and the…

The Alberta (Canada) curriculum for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade French immersion instruction is presented. An introductory section describes the rationale and objectives of the program and provides a brief bibliography. The next section charts the types of discourse on which the curriculum focuses within each language skill area (listening, speaking,…

The Alberta (Canada) curriculum for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade French immersion instruction is presented. An introductory section describes the rationale and objectives of the program and provides a brief bibliography. The next section charts the types of discourse on which the curriculum focuses within each language skill area (listening,…

The directory lists French immersion programs at the elementary and secondary school levels in each province and territory of Canada. They are arranged alphabetically by province or territory, then by city or town within those categories. Data pertain to the 1995-96 school year. Information provided for each region includes general information on…

Results of studies by four research teams on French as a second language in Ontario are presented along with commentaries. Merrill Swain and Sharon Lapkin's findings from the study "Bilingual Education in Ontario: A Decade of Research" are reported, and Michael Canale's discussion of the purposes and theoretical framework development of…

A collection of papers on immersion programs focuses primarily on their applicability for language minority students, and addresses some common myths and misunderstandings about immersion education. In "An Overview of Issues in Immersion Education" (Wallace Lambert), major issues and misconceptions are outlined. A second group of papers…

A collection of classroom activities for French and Spanish language immersion programs includes descriptions of or directions for a variety of exercises, accompanied by a brief introductory section of notes for the teacher. The activities include audio-motor units, a back-to-back activity, a cocktail party simulation, cultural assimilators,…

A study was carried out to assess the French language proficiency of kindergarten students enrolled in a French early immersion program and two "classes d'accueil," that is, a special program for non-French speaking immigrant children. The particular focus of the study was to investigate whether the level of proficiency in French is…

A study was conducted to assess social and political factors affecting the implementation of French immersion in northern Ontario, Canada. Using a sample of eight boards in Northeastern Ontario communities, data were obtained by interviewing 17 French immersion principals and 52 immersion teachers. Data were also obtained by surveying all…

This study examined the mathematics achievement of grade three English-speaking pupils enrolled in French immersion or in an English program as a function of language of instruction and the extent to which their teachers used a locally developed mathematics curriculum document. The sample consisted of eight English program classes and four French…

This research, covering a twelve-month period from February 1976 to February 1977, undertook in-depth studies of the costs of French in seven school systems in Ontario. Four of these were urban, and three were semi-urban/semi-rural in population distribution. Part One of this report deals with an in-depth study of the costs of French programs…