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Page 4

| y aun vrai lien entre
E immersion frangaise et
le DELF, quand les deux
sont utilisés ensembles. Mais
quand un existe sans |’autre,
le potentiel de réussite devient
plus difficile.

Depuis des années, AFFNO
a toujours eu des commen-
taires et opinions avec les gens
impliqués avec l’immersion
frangaise. Mais, on n’a jamais
eu la chance de parler avec
quelqu’un impliqué directe-
ment avec le DELF (Dipléme
d’Etudes de la Langue Fran-
gaise).

Au début d’avril, AFFNO a
eu la chance de parler avec une
source trés impliqué et impor-
tant avec le DELF au niveau
national (au Canada).

Notre source a accepté
de nous parler, en échange
d’anonymat.

Une des responsabilités

principales de notre source
c’est de faire la promotion du
DELF partout au Canada, et
de trouver des partenaires dans
toutes les provinces.

ACTUELLEMENT AFFNO AVRIL 2016

DELF ne peut pas remplacer
immersion frangaise

Maintenant, en 2016, il ya
des universités partout dans le
pays qui soutiennent le DELF,
ainsi que des ministéres pro-
vinciaux et fédéraux.

Les
enfants en
immersion

francaise
(comme
celles-ci

a l’Ecole
Sk’aad

gaa naay,
Skidegate),
adorent
leurs études.
AFENO file
photo

Par exemple, la province de
Nouvelle-Ecosse est mainten-
ant un partenaire de DELF.

Voyez “DELF”’ a la page 9

DELF cannot replace French Immersion

here is an obvious
link between French
Immersion and

DELF, when the two are used
together. But when one exists
without the other, the potential
for success becomes that much
tougher.

For a few years now, AF-
FNO has always acquired com-
ments and opinions with those
who are involved with French
Immersion. But we never had
a chance to talk with anyone
directly involved with DELF
(French Language Education
Diploma).

In early April, AFFNO
received the opportunity to
talk with a source associated
with DELF at the top level in
Canada. Our source agreed to
talk with us, in exchange for
anonymity.

One of this individual’s
main duties is to promote
DELF throughout Canada, and

to find various partners in all
of the provinces. Currently, in
2016, there are now universi-
ties all over Canada who sup-
port DELF, as well as federal
and provincial ministries. For
example, the entire province of
Nova Scotia is now a partner
of DELF.

The DELF test is a good
tool that French Immersion
students can use after gradu-
ation, to find out their French
language level on the interna-
tional scale.

So, there was a bit of
shock involved when AFFNO
informed our source that con-
troversy exists here in north-
western B.C.

Our source asked why it’s
DELF versus French Immer-
sion, and vice-versa.

“DELF is simply a test,” he
said. “It’s a diploma, it’s not
like studying years of French.
Anybody can pass the DELF.”

Indeed — DELF is a test
that is performed online. If
someone wants to do it, they
can — they simply pay the fee,
and voila. After completing
the test, the individual now has
proof of their competence of
the language. To be considered
as bilingual with DELF, the
B-2 level (international stan-
dard) must be obtained. Then,
with the B-2, the individual
then has the option of work-
ing or studying in France, or
any other country in the world
where the official language is
French.

The best method of achiev-
ing this is to remain in French
Immersion until graduation, or
as long as possible.

Our source agreed that
having French Immersion
and DELF together is the best
choice.

“Without a doubt, yes,” he
said.

A study done by the As-
sociation of Canadian Profes-
sors for Immersion (ACPI) was
done in 2012, and determined
that the majority of students
who achieve their B-2 are
those who remain in French
Immersion, and with every
year (up until Grade 12), the
chance to succeed with DELF
increases.

In comparison, those
students who have less French
Immersion experience diffi-
culty in passing the test.

So, it is obvious that DELF
is a great tool for students, but
using it to replace French Im-
mersion is not the solution.

“The question isn’t even
relevant,” our source stated.

A public meeting regarding
the future of French Immersion
in Hazelton will be held Mon-
day, April 18 at 6 p.m., at the
Hazelton Secondary School.
We ask that you please attend.