WITH

MY KIDS

MYRNA ROSSIGNOL

Trealized the importance of both
languages. Therefore for our
children’s education, [looked
into the Francophones
education system called Cadre
and the anglophone French
education called immersion.
After a year of attending
information meetings, I choose
the Cadre.

FRENCH

Beae INFO-PARENTS me simieituaiiand Oe

LEARNING

This yearmarks the 15th
anniversary of Programme cadre de

francais, the 50th anniversary of the
Francophone Federation in British
Columbia as well as the 200th
anniversary since French people
firstsettledin this province. Special

| would like to share this family’s role
in francophone culture for the past 60
years. My mother was born to
Francophone parents. When she was
five, her family moved to an English
community. With prejudices running
strong against French, her parents
chose to stop speaking French into the
English community. Her language was
lost. Although my father’s family
kepttheirlanguage, | have heard stories
of how they were punished by teachers
for speaking French in the school yard.

Years later, my parents married and
began their family. Here was a French
speaking father and a mother who
understood only English. My father
would never think of giving his children
advantage over their mother (we were
unruly enough already, so he did not
teach us French. Fortunately we could
study French in secondary school.

This opportunity had mixed results.
Our parisian teacher emphasized the
importance of practising orally and |
took it as good advice. One word sticks
in my mind even today - la téte. | came
home to get help from my French
Canadian father. That was a mistake.
He informed me «if you are going to
speak, pronounce it properly- /a tate. |
learned very quickly to keep my mouth
shut and avoid the conflict. My oral
French became extinct. | could read
and write, that’s all.

Fortunately, | met this handsome
young Frenchman from Normandie.
Since his family understood only

9g

events will be held throughout the
year to mark this milestone.

French, my immersion began. Though
English was my mother tongue, |
realized the importance of both
languages. Therefore for our children’s
education, | looked into the
Francophones education system called
Cadre and the anglophone French
education called immersion. After a
year of attending information meetings,
| choose the Cadre.

My husband was concerned that he
would not be able to help our children
study because he had experienced
difficulties in school. | reassured him
that because | had done well in English;
| was prepared to begin from the scratch,
learning French with our children. One
word, one phrase at a time. He could
provide us _ with the proper
pronounciation.

We have arrived ten years later and
the children and | are completely
bilingual. Our sons are on the honour
roll at Mount Klitsa (secondary school
at Port Alberni)- one even gets A’s in
English. Our daughter receives top
marks in elementary as well. They even
tutor other children in French.

As for me, | translate for others, have
taught French playtime for Parks and
Recreation. Through three generations,
this family has come from a language
lost to one rediscovered to our great
benefit.

| urge all parents to explore their
options in helping their children learn a
second language. The rewards are
endless.

Myrna Rossignol, Port Alberni