The French homework comes out of the backpack, your child asks what "la phrase complète" means, and you have no idea. Many parents of French as a Second Language (FSL) students feel this exact moment. Here's the reassuring part: you don't need to speak French to help your child do well in French.
Below: the main French programs, the French credit for graduation, signs your child is struggling, and easy ways to support French homework from the sidelines.
Sources: Government of Ontario; Statistics Canada, 2025
Core French, Extended French or immersion: what's the difference?
FSL is the umbrella name for French taught in English-language schools. In Ontario, every student in an English-language public school studies French from Grades 4 to 8, and every student needs at least one French credit to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Government of Ontario, 2024). Families can often choose more French through Extended French or French immersion, depending on what their board offers.
| Program | French in elementary school | By the end of Grade 8 | In high school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core French | A French class, required from Grades 4 to 8 | At least 600 hours of French | At least one French credit to graduate |
| Extended French | At least 25% of all teaching in French | More French, in French class and another subject | Seven credits in French: four FSL, three other subjects |
| French immersion | At least 50% of all teaching in French | French used across many subjects | Ten credits in French: four FSL, six other subjects |
Ontario English-language public schools. Source: Government of Ontario, French as a second language programs. Programs, start grades and names vary by province and school board.
How does French work in other provinces?
Each province sets its own rules for French in English-language schools. Some require it for years, some leave it optional, and immersion entry points differ.
| Province | Is French required? | Programs you may see |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | A second language is required in Grades 5 to 8 (Core French if no other is offered) | Core French, French immersion |
| Alberta | Optional; school authorities decide which courses they offer | French as a second language courses, designed to start in Grade 4 or Grade 10 |
| Saskatchewan | Check with your school division | Core French and French immersion, Kindergarten to Grade 12 |
| Manitoba | Where it is offered, Basic French starts in Grade 4 | Basic French; immersion starting in Kindergarten or Grade 1, Grade 4 or Grade 7 |
| Quebec (English schools) | A Secondary V second-language course is needed for the high school diploma | French taught as a second language |
| Nova Scotia | Core French is compulsory in Grades 4 to 9 | Core French, Integrated French (Grades 7 to 12), Early and Late French immersion |
| New Brunswick | French is compulsory until the end of Grade 10 | French immersion starting in Grade 1 or Grade 6 |
| Prince Edward Island | French is offered in all schools from Grade 4 at the latest | Core French and French immersion |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Core French is required in Grades 4 to 9 | Core French, Intensive Core French in Grade 6, immersion from Kindergarten or Grade 7 |
Sources: Government of BC; Government of Alberta; Government of Saskatchewan; Manitoba Education; Gouvernement du Québec; Nova Scotia Education; New Brunswick Policy 309; PEI Department of Education; NL Schools. Programs, entry grades and exceptions vary by board, so check with your child's school.
Your school or board website lists the programs your local schools offer and the registration dates, which often come early in the year before a program begins.
Do you need to speak French to help?
No. Your child's French teacher teaches the French. Your job at home is the same as in any subject: routine, encouragement and interest. Many families in French programs don't speak French at all, and their children do well.
Ask your child to teach you
Ask, "What did you learn in French today? Teach me one word." Explaining is a strong way to learn, and it tells you how confident your child feels.
Listen to French together
French cartoons, songs, podcasts and audiobooks give your child the sound of the language every day. Turn on French audio with English subtitles for a family movie night.
Keep reading strong in English
Reading together in English still matters. Understanding a story, predicting what comes next and finding the main idea carry over to French reading too.
Use the tools the class uses
A translation app can help you understand what the homework is asking. Ask your child's classroom teacher which websites, word lists or audio the class uses, so you can point your child to them at home.
French help when you don't speak French
A certified teacher who speaks French with your child
Many of our tutors teach French as a Second Language and French immersion, and can practise speaking, reading and writing at your child's level.
Find a French tutorHow can you tell if your child is struggling in French?
Watch for these signs:
- French homework takes far longer than other subjects, or keeps "disappearing".
- Your child says they don't understand what the teacher is saying in class.
- Marks in French, or in subjects taught in French, are dropping from one report card to the next.
- Your child is anxious or embarrassed about speaking French out loud.
If you see these, start with your child's classroom teacher: ask which skill is hardest right now, listening, speaking, reading or writing, and what the class is working on next. If reading is hard in English as well as in French, mention that too. Learning two languages does not cause reading difficulties such as dyslexia (Dyslexia Canada, 2026), so a reading struggle in both languages is worth looking into early.
Should you switch out of French immersion?
It's a question many parents ask, and there is no single right answer. Before deciding, talk to the classroom teacher about what is hard and whether it is improving, and give extra support a fair try. A rough patch in Grade 2 or 3 often settles as reading clicks. If your child is unhappy for a long time, or struggles to read in both languages, a change can be the right call. Either way, it's a decision you make with the school, based on how your child is doing, not on whether you speak French. Our guide Is French immersion right for your child? covers entry points, benefits and the questions to ask before you enrol.
How a French tutor helps
A tutor gives your child something hard to get in a busy class: time to speak. One-on-one, your child can practise conversation, read aloud, fix the same grammar mistake until it sticks, and prepare for an oral presentation or a test without worrying about classmates listening. For immersion students, a tutor can also help with math, science or social studies taught in French. Look for a certified teacher who has taught your child's program, and ask them to start from what the class is covering now.
Tutoring with Connect Education
Every tutor on Connect Education is a certified teacher. Tell us your child's grade and program, Core French, Extended French or immersion, and we match you with a tutor who teaches it. Lessons can be online, at your home or at a public library. See our pages on French as a Second Language, French tutoring and French immersion support, or tell us about your child to get matched.
Certified teachers
Online, home or library