Moving to a new country comes with plenty of challenges. To help children from allophone families (whose first language is not French) learn French and integrate into Quebec society, they are first placed in welcoming classes. In these classes, children receive help learning French (link in French) and the codes and values of their new environment. In this article, we have put together some basic information to help you understand welcoming classes.
Most welcoming classes are found in the Greater Montreal area, which is the main destination for newcomers (the second most popular destination is Sherbrooke). Some newly arrived children will join welcoming classes, where they can meet children of different origins and ages. This transition period varies in length, but children will generally stay in the welcoming class for an average of ten months.
Schools group students in welcoming classes according to the number of attending allophone students, their level of French, their ages, and the available teaching staff and resources.
In some schools, allophone children integrate directly into regular classes, but receive support in learning French. Direct immersion in a regular classroom is becoming an increasingly popular option around the world.
Teachers in welcoming classes assess the students’ French skills and create sub-groups as needed. For example, there may be one sub-group for beginner students, and one for more advanced students. The instructors use various teaching methods and tools to communicate with their students and help them learn French. These can include the following:
Welcoming classes provide environments for non-French speaking children to receive support in learning French and integrating into Quebec society. Children receive intensive instruction in French. The French program is called ILSS (Intégration linguistique, scolaire et sociale), meaning linguistic, academic, and social integration. Some of the benefits of welcoming classes include the following:
The welcoming class teacher can make requests for support for the student, whether in language, remediation, speech therapy, or anything else the student may need in order to integrate into the regular classroom.
No student should be denied access to complementary services because they are in a welcoming class or are receiving reception services and support for learning French.
Every child has different skills and will learn a new language at their own pace. It is normal to feel that they are learning slowly, especially in the first few months. But you will see how much they progress after only a few short months! How long a child stays in the welcome class may vary depending on their needs and personality, as well as how quickly they learn the language. There is no minimum or maximum time frame. Students typically attend welcoming classes for ten months, but they may use the service for as long as they need it.
Once a child has progressed enough in the welcoming class, they are integrated into a regular class at the appropriate grade level for their age. The teacher uses an evaluation grid to determine if the student has reached their age-appropriate level, even if they have been in the welcoming class for fewer than 10 months.
Some students may need to be integrated at a lower grade level, but this is not generally the case. It is also possible to keep the student in the welcoming class for a longer period, as their needs require.
There is no set date in the school year for students to transfer from the welcoming class to the regular class. However, it is usually best to wait until the end of a school term, when they have received a report card or an assessment, before moving them to another class or school.
In the welcoming class, the teacher does not base lesson planning and assessments on age, as is the case in a regular classroom. In addition, school cycles and grade levels are not taken into account when evaluating student progress. Instead, progress is measured according to an assessment grid based on specific learning benchmarks.
Newly arrived families may find adapting to a different society and language particularly stressful. And your child’s academic success is likely something you take to heart. Fortunately, Alloprof is here to support you during your child’s educational journey and integration into school, with a myriad of tools and resources at your fingertips. Here are some ideas:
You can help your child learn French even if it is not your own language. Read our blog post for tips on how to support a child who is going to school in a language you do not speak. Happy reading!
Writing : The Alloprof Parents' team