Bilingual Program for Elementary and Preschool (4 years old)
All elementary schools across the English Montreal School Board offer various levels of French language instruction integrated within the Québec Education Program. Students attending Bancroft Elementary follow a bilingual curriculum model.
Speaking two languages each day encourages the growth and understanding of a second language during the most important learning years of life. Starting in Pre-Kindergarten, students spend 50% of classroom time speaking and learning in French and 50% of classroom time speaking and learning in English.
Reasearch shows that bilingualism has many cognitive benefits that go beyond those of language acquisition such as heightened mental flexibility, creative thinking skills, enhanced metalinguistic awareness as well as greater communicative sensitivity.
| Level | Subjects Taught in English | Subjects Taught in French¹ |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K & Kdg | 50% of classroom time | 50% of classroom time |
| Cycle 1 | English Language Arts Physical Education & Health Ethics and Religious Culture | Français, immersion bilingue Mathématique Musique Arts plastiques |
| Cycle 2 | English Language Arts Physical Education & Health Mathematics Music² Visual Art² | Français, immersion bilingue Science et technologie Géographie, histoire et éducation à la citoyenneté Musique² Arts plastiques² Éthique et culture religieuse |
| Cycle 3 | English Language Arts Physical Education & Health Mathematics Music² Visual Art² | Français immersion bilingue Science et technologie Géographie, histoire et éducation à la citoyenneté Musique² Arts plastiques² Éthique et culture religieuse |
¹ This does not include French spoken during recess, daycare and other extra-curricular activities.
² Music and Visual Art are taught in a bilingual classroom.
