French Dual Language Program (DLP)

There are many types of bilingual programs, but our DLP is a 50/50 model, sometimes called a two-way immersion model or partial-immersion program. Instructional time is divided 50/50 between English and French for all grades. Each DLP class is made up of about 50% French-fluent speakers (“francophones”) and 50% English-dominant speakers (“anglophones”).

Francophone students enter the program as French-fluent speakers, usually acquiring their French language skills from either living with French-speaking family members and/or living in a French-speaking environment. Students coming from French immersion programs, if highly proficient in French, may be considered francophone candidates. Some francophones qualify as “ENL” students, meaning that they are not yet English-fluent speakers. Other francophones may enter the program as bilingual English- and French-speakers.

Anglophone students are typically English-dominant students who enter the DLP speaking little or no French, but they have the opportunity to learn French through immersion in the DLP. The point of entry for Anglophone students is in Kindergarten only.

Students in both language groups may speak one or more other languages. One of their languages may be their “dominant” language: that is, the language that they feel most comfortable using to communicate with others. The 50/50 balance of students in each class allows students to support each other’s language development and to celebrate the diversity of their community.

The DLP students learn the same curriculum as students in our all-English classes, but DLP students learn 50% of the lessons in French across all subjects (reading, writing, math, social studies, etc.), and 50% of the lessons in all subjects in English. Some curricular materials are translated into French, and some authentic French resources are used when possible and appropriate. No lessons are repeated in the other language; i.e., a lesson taught in French will not be retaught in English later. However, many concepts first taught in one language will be reviewed and/or reinforced in the other language to support the needs of all learners and develop students’ vocabulary in both languages.

Most specialty classes (art, music, physical education) are taught in English.

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Yes. Currently, students in Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade have Language Workshop about once a week, a specialty class in which students are exposed to French as a foreign language and get the chance to explore other languages throughout the year. Our staff and PTA also organize programs and events for the entire school community throughout the year to celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity.

Our DLP teachers use many strategies to teach anglophones in French through immersion, including gestures, pictures, repetition, and modeling, among others. In general during French instructional time, teachers speak only in French to students using the above strategies to ensure comprehension and engagement. Bilingual students often support their classmates as needed, but translations from teachers or students are only used if absolutely necessary. A transition period in the first few weeks of kindergarten is often implemented, when teachers might use a student’s dominant language more frequently to be sure that all students feel comfortable in their new classroom; after a few weeks, teachers will consistently use the 50/50 model of instruction.

As with all academic subjects, children will progress in their skills at their own pace. In general, grades K & 1 in the DLP focus on building listening and comprehension skills in French. Students may begin saying some of the most commonly used words in French in these grades (e.g., colors, numbers, simple greetings), and they will join in with the choral reading of songs, poems, and other shared texts. Many students begin saying simple, short, spontaneous sentences in French in grade 2.

Our DLP follows a sequential biliteracy model: that is, in grades K & 1, students begin to read and write in one language first — for anglophones, in English. Research has shown that building literacy skills in one language first will allow a student to successfully transfer those skills to a second language later. In those early grades, although students focus on reading and writing independently in one language, they are being exposed to literacy in both languages through “balanced literacy,” meaning, for example: read-alouds, shared reading, shared writing, interactive writing, word study, labels around the room, etc. This exposure supports the transition to literacy in the second language. In grade 2, when teachers see that their students have built a strong foundation in their first-language literacy, anglophone students begin to read and write in both English and French.

Homework expectations vary by grade. In grades K & 1, anglophones will typically work on the French “song/poem of the week” to accompany the English weekly song/poem, possibly along with other short activities to support class work (e.g., reviewing French high-frequency words such as le, la, les, etc.). In grades 2 through 5, anglophones will begin bringing French books home to read, and they might have other writing or grammar-related activities to complete as well. Your child’s teacher will provide you with information about homework expectations at the beginning of the school year.

Typically any homework, be it in English or in French, should be an activity that a child can complete either completely independently (in the upper elementary grades) or with minimal support from a caregiver (in the lower grades). This helps the teacher to evaluate what the child is able to do either independently or with minimal assistance; it also allows parents to see what their children have been learning in school, and possibly support them with those concepts as they see fit. Thus, you do not need to speak French fluently to support your anglophone child with French homework, though knowing some French might be helpful to give some minimal support in the lower grades.

Teachers provide students and families with resources throughout the year to support learning outside of the classroom. Our after-school program offers homework help with some bilingual support available; please get in touch with them if you are interested. Many DLP families also use one another as a resource for support with homework, school communication, and other activities; you may ask your child’s teacher or class parent to help you get in touch with French speakers in the school community.

We hope that families in the DLP will make an effort to celebrate and encourage the language learning happening in your child’s classroom throughout his or her time in the PS 58 DLP. This effort may look different for each family. If you do speak some French, engaging your child in activities in the language at home may be beneficial. If you do not speak much French, there are some easy ways to support your child’s language learning outside the school environment, including, but not limited to: listening to songs in French, watching movies in French with English subtitles, attending French cultural activities around the city, and talking with French-speakers in the community whenever possible.

Every child is unique, and multilingualism is very much a part of our DLP and our community; many students and families in our program speak two or more languages. If multiple languages are clearly separated (e.g., one parent – one language, or one language at home – one language outside the home), most children will be able to learn and discriminate between two or more languages. Students who speak more than one language sometimes find connections between languages that help them to quickly build vocabulary in a new one (e.g., French and Spanish both being romance languages means that there are some similar words and grammatical concepts). There are many books and online resources available about bilingual and multilingual families; we would encourage you to consult them if you have a concern or questions about your own child’s language abilities.

Here is one such resource to consult for general questions about bilingualism: http://www.francoisgrosjean.ch/for_parents_en.html

Most DLP students progress at the same pace as students in all-English classes in most subjects; all students are taught the same curriculum and held to the same standards in English. Your child’s teacher will keep you informed of his or her progress through report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and other communication as needed. If you have a particular concern about your child’s progress, please speak to your child’s teacher.

Any child can enroll in the DLP, regardless of language background or academic ability. However, we find that certain personalities thrive in immersion programs: specifically, children who are curious, like taking risks and meeting new people, and quickly adapt to new activities or groups. Children who are hesitant to try new things can also be very successful in our program, but they may show progress in their second language more slowly than others do.

No. We follow the New York State curriculum and aim to meet New York State Learning Standards. We translate and adapt the curriculum to the needs of our language learners, and we do teach some French grammar. We use some resources from France, Canada, and other French-speaking countries to supplement our curriculum in French.

We are not accredited by the French Ministry of Education, but we were the recipient of Le Label FrancEducation in 2011, a prestigious award given by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a formal recognition and accreditation to schools providing a French bilingual program.

Our DLP follows a sequential biliteracy model: that is, in grades K & 1, students begin to read and write in one language first—for francophones, in French. Research has shown that building literacy skills in one language first will allow a student to successfully transfer those skills to a second language later. In those early grades, students are being exposed to literacy in both languages through “balanced literacy,” meaning, for example: read-alouds, shared reading, shared writing, interactive writing, word study, labels around the room, etc. This exposure supports the transition to literacy in the second language. In grade 2, when teachers see that their students have built a strong foundation in their first-language literacy, francophone students begin to read and write in both French and English.

Most DLP students progress at the same pace as students in all-English classes in most subjects; all students are taught the same curriculum and held to the same standards in English. For some francophone students who are balanced bilinguals, the transition to literacy in both languages is often smooth. For other francophone students who are still learning English as a second language, this transition may take more time, and we provide those students with more support as needed to reach grade-level benchmarks. Your child’s teacher will keep you informed of his or her progress through report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and other communication as needed. If you have a particular concern about your child’s progress, please speak to your child’s teacher.

Some French grammar concepts are introduced in our DLP to support students’ speaking, reading, and writing skills in French. We do not follow the grammar sequence of the curriculum of the French Ministry of Education. The frequency of grammar lessons depends on the grade; your child’s teacher will provide you with expectations for grammar throughout the year.

Classwork and homework in all subjects and languages are often differentiated to challenge students of different academic abilities and language backgrounds. Some tasks may be more or less challenging for certain students, and there are often opportunities for students to expand their thinking if they complete a task relatively easily and quickly. Your child’s teacher will provide you with information about homework expectations and guidelines at the beginning of the school year.

Some of our teachers are native French speakers, and others speak French fluently as a second language. All of our teachers are trained to meet the needs of both French-fluent students and French language learners.

Every child is unique, and multilingualism is very much a part of our DLP and our community; many students and families in our program speak two or more languages. If multiple languages are clearly separated (e.g., one parent – one language, or one language at home – one language outside the home), most children will be able to learn and discriminate between two or more languages. Students who speak more than one language sometimes find connections between languages that help them to quickly build vocabulary in a new one (e.g., French and Spanish both being romance languages means that there are some similar words and grammatical concepts).

We encourage families to support their children in their native language, whatever that may be. There are many types of bilingual families and many different ways to structure that support. If you have a concern or question about your own child, we would encourage you to consult one or more of the many books and online resources available about bilingual and multilingual families.

Here is one such resource to consult for general questions about bilingualism: http://www.francoisgrosjean.ch/for_parents_en.html