According to the researchers, "students had high self-ratings of their

ability to speak and understand French....In addition, they appeared
confident about their ability to make themselves understood in French."

PERCEPTIONS CON'T

The majority of the 61 students wanted to continue in Frénch immersion,
70% of the grade 6 and 37.5% of the grade 5 students would recommend a
Similar class to a friend. dust over one-quarter wanted to ssend more
time on French, and only 3.3% wanted to spend less time.

*("Longitudinal Evaluation of the Early-Entry Immersion Program in
Coquitlam School District:R_port to the End of Year 6: .
Stan *hapson and Elaine M. Bay, B.C. French Study, Faculty of Education,
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.; January, 1980).

et

Executive Profiles — .

Keeping busy is a way of life for B.C.P.F. Director, dudy Gibson. Through-
out her school years, she liysadertnrt marce bases in Ontario, .Harthern
Alberta, Kamloops, and.wefftana. dudy then at™sended first year University
at Simon Fraser be#éfe starting work as a service™eepresentative for B.d.
Tel. Judy is maryvied to dohn, an aircraft mechanic fos Pacific Western.
Airlines, TheyWhave two children attending immersion Alesses at Irvine
Rlementary infrort Coquitlam:Erin, 8 years in grade 3 an&\ Garth, 5 years

in kindergaryen. When dudy heard her daughter's immersior\class was to be
moved, she foined forces with other mothers to advertize tile programme and
increase enfolment. Success! and Judy has not looked back dince. In the
spring of 7977, she became Alternate Director of B.C.P.F. arld in October
1978 she was elected Director. Judy also serves on the Natibnal Board

of Directors for C.P.E.

dudy finds| time to read, read, read, sew, attend local school board meetings,
work aS a pone contractor for a local weekly newspaper as.well as belong-
ing to Porg Coquitlam Women's Centre and the Kilmer Consumerf Co-op. She
has contributed two articles to "So You Want Your Child to Tearn French";
attended Ministry of Education reaction sessionea for secondfry and
elementary}core French curricula; been a committee member for a brief on
Immersion jto be presented to the Minister of Education; spdxen at the 1979
Colloquium fon Prominent Issues: in French Education. Judy is\e very :
dedicated D\ rector!

In September 1X29, the B.C.P.F. executive installed an ehGseeffic Secretary-—
Margaret Donalds& of Vencouver. Margaret was born end raijsed in Agassiz,
B.C., the eldest Af six children. She received her Bachelgr of Education
(Elementary) from ¥.B.C.. and went on to teach in KamloseS7hnd Vancouver,
Margaret is marrieq to Ken, President of Bacon, Donaldses) and Associates;
Consulting Engineers. They have two children in immersicg clesses at

Queen Elizabeth Annbx in Vancouver: Jennifer, age 6 in erbde one and
Christopher, ege 5 1n kindergarten. Margaret became inte}fested in B.C.P.B.
when an executive mg¢mber invited her to attend a conferenge on French
second languege learning. She has been actively involve¥ ever since as;
Secretary; executive member; and in helping—tesetim—tffe Vancouver chepter
of B.C,P.F. Margaret is currently commifitee member working on a brief to
be presented to the Minister of Educatio# . As well, Margaret works parte
time for her husband, is taking an accoufting course at U.B.C., is .a
member of Queen Elizabeth Annex Consultqtive Committee, and enjoys reading,
sewing, outdoor activities at Galiano, and playing the guitar.