Welcome

Welcome to Entreparents.mb.ca, The Fédération provinciale des comités de parents du Manitoba (FPCP) Web site. This site has been developed to provide resources and information tailored to the needs of parents with children in Manitoba’s French schools.

Although the content of this site is mainly French, there is a tool called, “I’m with you! Exogamous families’ guide to the world of francophone education”, that is available to English speaking parents through FPCP. This book is written in English and explains the basics of francophone education in an entertaining, easy to read style. It will assist the Anglophone partner of an exogamous family both by answering many of the common questions concerning Francophone education and by explaining ways that a parent can support his or her child’s Francophone learning experience.

To order, email us at: fpcp@fpcp.mb.ca or call 237-9666 or 1-888-666-8108 (toll free Manitoba only)

Cost: $16, plus mailing fees

Excerpt from I’m with you! Exogamous families’ guide to the world of francophone education.

How can I participate in my children’s education?

Parents play a central role in promoting language use as part of the family bonding process. You can build your own family culture by using French creativity and consistently in different home situations. Help out with as much homework as you can – especially in English language arts – and take an active interest in your children’s schooling.

Here are a few things you can do

• Listen to French radio and music.
• Watch TV and videos in French – (DVDs allow you to select the language you want to watch a movie in).
• Play board and card games in French.
• Read to your children in French.
• Hire French-speaking babysitters.
• Join and regularly visit your provincial French-language resource centre, where you’ll find items such as books videos, DVDs and games.

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Paul et Suzanne for parents

La francisation

In 1993-1994, la Fédération proviniciale des comités de parents developped a nursery school programme that facilitates the entry of children who have the right to attend a Français school and who speak little or no French into the «français school»

What are the goals of the programme?

• to enable the child to continue their personal growth, to enhance the child's capacity to relate with others and to interact with his or her surroundings.
• to enable the child to learn a sufficient amount of French so that he or she is able to integrate the Français kindergarten the following year.

Who is it for?

This program targets children who have speak little or no French but who are entitled to attend a Français school.

There are 3 categories of entitled children:

• children having at least one francophone parent
• children of all citizens who have recieved their primary school instruction in French
• any brother or sister of a child who is or who has recieved their primary or secondary education in French.

What is the parent's role in the programme?

• develop to its fullest the child's physical, emotional and intellectual potential
• to favor the development and growth of the French language as well as the French culture
• to create an environment where the child feels secure, comfortable, in which he\she can grow and develop good self-esteem
• to give support to families
• to create a greater French environment in the home.

Preschool francisation program seminars

The French language program Paul et Suzanne has 2 components : one for the child and one for the parents. Research shows that parents have a significant influence on the child’s ability to learn a second language. The parent who does not speak the language plays an especially important role. For this reason the Fédération Provinciale des Comités de Parents (FPCP) offers seminars to help the parents who have chosen the francisation pre-school for their child.

• Here are some of the topics that can be adressed at this meeting
• What does my child do at the day-care? at pre-school? (programming, scheduling, rules)
• How can I be involved in his or her pre-school experience?
• How will my child react to instruction in French?
• How can I help my child learn French even if I can’t speak it?
• What can I expect from the day-care? the pre-school? the school?
• What is the difference between a French immersion programme and a Français programme?
• What is the language policy in the day-care? the pre-school? the DSFM?
• What services are available for our family?

It is strongly recommended that both parents be present. These seminars can be held in English as they are meant to respond to your specific needs.

Jouer en français – French-language play groups

• Does your preschool child speak some French?
• Would you like him or her to learn to speak French in an easy and fun way?
• As a parent, would you like to be more at ease when French is spoken?
• Would you like to learn some fun French activities with your child?
• Come and play with us at the play group «Jouer en français»

For information on times and locations call 237-9666

Resources

• "What language(s), culture(s) and language of education do we want for our child?". The values and choices of exogamous couples
• “My child goes to French school: What role should I play?”
• “What? Me, learn French?”
• “Our daughter’s education is a central part of our family life.”
• What’s forte francité familioscolaire in ExogamEnglish?

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